story
by Steve McCarthy
June 16, 2010
COTUIT - University of Utah
catcher C.J. Cron ignited the Cotuit Kettleers'
offense with a solo home run and an RBI-double in a
4-1 home-opener win over the Hyannis Harbor Hawks
Wednesday at Cotuit's Lowell Park.
The Kettleers compiled just six hits in their first
two games combined but pounded out eight hits
Wednesday, with three going for extra bases.
Cotuit's win was their first of the season,
improving the defending Western Division champs'
record to 1-2. Hyannis lost its first game of the
young season to fall to 2-1.
“We're just glad to get a win, and certainly a win
at home,” Cotuit manager Mike Roberts said.
Cron went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in from the
fifth spot in Cotuit's batting order while Kevin
Patterson (Auburn) was 3-for-3 with an RBI from the
sixth spot. Patterson is a third-year Kettleer.
“The transition from metal to wood is tough,”
Cron said. “We knew we would come around. It was
just a matter of time.”
Cron hit a towering shot into the trees behind the
left field fence in the fifth inning off Hyannis
starting pitcher Matteo D'Angelo (Winthrop).
“Fortunately I hit the mistake and got a good
swing on it,” Cron said.
The Kettleers are taking advantage of Cron's bat
while they can, as the power hitter has a shot to
make Team USA in July.
D'Angelo (0-1) took the loss after holding the
Kettleers scoreless through the first four innings
and surrendering just two hits before Cron's homer.
He left after five and two-thirds, allowing seven
hits and one walk while striking out two. All four
of Cotuit's runs were charged to him.
Matt Andriese (1-0, UC-Riverside) picked up the win
in his first start for Cotuit, allowing the one
earned run on eight hits and striking out three. He
did not walk a batter. Brooks Pinckard (Baylor)
pitched the final three perfect innings.
“We knew our pitching is solid, so we knew they'd
keep us in the game,” Cron said. “We knew four
runs was probably good enough.”
Hyannis' lone run crossed in the second inning when
Dan Sheppard (Iowa) plated Casey McElroy (Auburn)
with a bases-loaded infield single.
After following Cron's home run with double down the
right field line, Patterson advanced on a groundout
and scored on a Zach Cone (Georgia) double.
“When Cron got a hold of that one, that kind of
woke us up a little bit,” Patterson said. “They
always say hitting is contagious.”
“To get two first-pitch hits back-to-back
definitely picked us up,” Roberts said.
Cron scored Chad Wright (Kentucky) from second in
the sixth inning with a double that one-hopped off
the center field fence. After a pitching change,
Patterson drove Cron in with an opposite-field bloop
single.
“You can't look at stats this early and worry
about doing too much,” Patterson said. “You just
have to relax a little bit and put good swings on
good pitches.”
Cody Stiles (North Carolina) finished the game in
relief for Hyannis. He struck out two and allowed
just Patterson's hit.
Cotuit has an off day Thursday before hosting
Orleans on Friday at 5 p.m.
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