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2009
Cotuit Kettleers Game Recaps
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season stories
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Submariner
Rowen baffles Chatham hitters in 2-1 win
story by Steve McCarthy
July 28, 2009
COTUIT - Zack Cox scored twice from the leadoff spot
and Ben Rowen completed a 2 2/3 inning save as the
Cotuit Kettleers held off the Chatham Anglers 2-1
Tuesday at Lowell Park.
The submarine style right-hander out of Virginia
Tech was more dominant than in any other relief
appearance this summer. It was his first save
despite leading the Kettleers’ bullpen with 15
appearances, as he is typically utilized by manager
Mike Roberts in a set-up role. “There’s no
question, that was his best outing of the year,”
Roberts said.
Rowen entered the game with one out in the seventh
inning and a 2-0 count on Chatham’s Addison
Johnson (Clemson) left by Navery Moore (Vanderbilt).
Rowen got Johnson to ground into an inning ending
double play, before retiring the final six batters
in order. He struck out the side in the eighth and
induced three fly balls in the ninth. “My fastball
was moving like it should, and my slider I could
back door that on the lefties, and that’s when
it’s effective the most,” Rowen said.
Cotuit starting pitcher Craig Fritsch (Baylor) was
relieved by Moore after allowing Chatham’s only
run in the fourth inning. He allowed three hits
through 3 2/3 innings, walked two and struck out
two. Moore then allowed the Anglers’ final hit in
the middle 2 2/3 innings and earned his first win
(1-1). “(Moore) was more confident tonight,”
Roberts said. “Not in all of his pitches, but
overall his control and his poise on the mound was
much better.”
The Kettleers (17-16-5) have put a pair of wins
together before they hit the road Wednesday to
battle the Bourne Braves, who lead the Kettleers by
one point in the Western Division standings.
Chatham starting pitcher Mike Dennhardt (2-3, Boston
College) allowed both runs and took the loss. Taylor
Hill (Vanderbilt) pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless
relief. The Anglers (17-20-0) have lost seven in a
row and are in danger of falling out of playoff
contention.
According to Coach Roberts, Cox served as an
unorthodox leadoff hitter Tuesday because Cape
League stolen base leader Chris Bisson (Kentucky)
was feeling ill before the game. Cox went 3-for-4
with a double and two singles. He accounted for both
Cotuit runs as he was driven in from second by Tony
Plagman’s (Georgia Tech) RBI-double in the first
inning and from third on a sac-fly in the sixth
inning by pinch-hitter Bisson. “Sometimes in the
leadoff spot I look for somebody who’s hot,
because you never know if they’re going to get
that extra bat in the ninth inning,” Roberts said.
“Zack right now has been sort of our hottest
hitter, and that’s the reason I put him up
there.”
Bisson showed warning track power in his only at bat
of the night with a drive to center field that
allowed Cox to score easily. “I can get on base,
but I can’t get in if they don’t score me,”
Cox said. “It was nice to see those guys come out
and do well and help me out.”
Cotuit pitching limited Chatham to just four hits.
Whit Merrifield’s (South Carolina) leadoff double
in the first inning was the Anglers’ only extra
base hit. The Anglers failed to push across runners
on third four times. Their lone run came in the
fourth inning when Matthew Perry (Holy Cross) scored
on a Dean Green (Oklahoma St.) RBI-single.
The pitchers were backed by crucial plays in the
field. Center fielder Jeff Rowland (Georgia Tech)
sprinted toward the fence and made an over the
shoulder grab for the third out in the sixth inning
that left Perry stranded on third.
“That’s a big league play right there,” Cox
said. “Not only did he get a great jump, but he
covered a lot of ground to catch that ball. That
could have been a difference maker in the game, but
him making that play changes everything.”
In the fourth inning, with runners on first and
third the Anglers sent Brian Harris (Vanderbilt)
from first on a steal attempt. Moore tried to
intercept the throw down to second, but instead
tipped the ball with his glove towards second
baseman Rico Noel (Coastal Carolina), who gunned
down Green breaking for the plate.
Cotuit’s game on Wednesday at Doran Park in Bourne
will get underway at 6 p.m.
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