By Courtney Swift
Kettleers Media Intern
July 13, 2012

BOURNE – Cotuit edged out the Braves 8-6 in another nail-biter Thursday. The Kettleers claimed an early lead, but just like most games this season between these two clubs, it turned into a fight until the finish. A couple of late inning insurance runs helped the Kettleers keep the lead and get the win.

Cotuit threatened early with the bases loaded in the first inning, but didn’t score until the third. Mike Ford (Princeton) hit a three run bomb to center field putting the Kettleers on top 3-0. The homer was Ford’s first extra base hit of the season. “It’s contagious,” Ford said. “I think Aldrich may have jump started us a bit. When one person gets going, the next guy wants to get a hit.”

Adam Nelubowich lead-off, went 3-5. / Photo by Joe Cavanaugh

The Kettleers added two more runs in the fifth after Adam Nelubowich (Washington State) tripled to center to lead off the inning. Daniel Aldrich (College of Charleston) drove him in with a single to center. “The top of the order has really been the key for us,” coach Mike Roberts said. Aldrich later scored on a single by hot hitting James Roberts (USC) to bring the score to 5-0 before Bourne’s comeback.

Cotuit’s starter Adam McCreery (Arizona State) had a shaky first inning on the mound. He hit the first batter he faced, but he settled down through the rest of his outing. “It wasn’t really an aggressive first inning,” he said. “So I wanted to slow it down, and just start throwing the ball where I wanted to.” McCreery threw four scoreless innings but was taken out of the game after giving up a single and walk in the fifth. He allowed just two runs on four hits with five strikeouts and one walk.

A three run triple for Bourne’s Jack Reinheimer (East Carolina) got the Braves on the board against Jordan Ramsey (UNC Wilmington) in relief. Bourne batted through the order cutting the Kettleers lead to one. “He threw one bad pitch and that’s 2-0 fastball down the middle, bases loaded,” Roberts said. “We talk about it all the time, you don’t do that in this league, and he learned a hard lesson.” An error at second base by Tony Kemp (Vanderbilt) allowed another Braves run bringing the score to 5-4.

However it was Ramsey who ended up with the win for the Kettleers. “What we’re trying to do is really have two starters,” Roberts said. “We’ve got some days off here and there, and we’re trying to get everybody through.” Ramsey threw three innings giving up three runs on four hits with one walk and one strikeout.

“I feel like everyone’s been more consistent,” Jacob Valdez (San Jose St) / Photo by Joe Cavanaugh

Both clubs scored back and forth in the later innings, but Cotuit’s insurance runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth helped to hold off the Braves. Jacob May (Coastal Carolina) showed some hustle in the seventh to beat out a hit up the middle. He then stole second and reached third on an overthrow by Bourne’s pitcher. May scored on a single by Ford.

Designated hitter, Jacob Valdez (San Jose State) added a run of his own for the Kettleers with a solo shot over the right field fence in the eighth. May hit a lead off triple to start the ninth, and scored again after a single by Patrick Biondi (Michigan). “I feel like everyone’s been more consistent,” Valdez said. “Everyone’s been working hard.” May extended his hit streak to 16 games, and Biondi continues to lead the league with his .403 average.

But Bourne wouldn’t go down easily. They scored two more runs in their half of the eighth, before Dan Slania (Notre Dame) got the six outs he needed for a Cotuit win and his fifth save of the season. The Kettleers are now 13-10 and are tied for first place with Falmouth in the Western Division. “For us to get back in it, you have to have a couple of good weeks during the season,” Roberts said. Cotuit has won eight of their last ten and is back at Lowell Park Friday against Wareham (10-13).

Kevin Ziomek (Vanderbilt) will be on the mound for the Kettleers looking for his third win of the season. Ziomek pitched in Cotuit’s last game against Wareham going seven innings while striking out six. For more post game interviews visit, Official Kettleers on YouTube.