story by Steve McCarthy
June 29, 2010
CHATHAM - For the third time in five games Tuesday,
the Cotuit Kettleers led 2-0 into the late innings only
to wind up on the short end of a walk-off 3-2 affair.
Chatham Anglers
third baseman Mark Ginther (Oklahoma St.) dropped the
game-winning double just inches from the right field
foul line at Veterans Field in Chatham to bring in Ricky
Oropesa (USC) from second, who reached on an error to
lead off the ninth inning. Aaron Westlake (Vanderbilt)
moved Oropesa over with a one-out single up the middle.
“I knew (Cotuit
reliever Michael Devine) had sink on the ball, so I
didn't want to ground into a double play,” Ginther
said. “I was just looking to drive the ball to the
right side and get the game over with in the ninth.”
The Anglers (9-4-1)
are three points back of the Eastern Division-leading
Brewster Whitecaps while Cotuit (4-10-1) is one point
above the cellar of the West.
Cotuit starting
pitcher Austin Wood (St. Petersburg JC) was perfect
through five innings before Chatham's Jason Martin (San
Jose St.) roped a base hit into left field to lead off
the sixth. Wood struck out just three batters, but
induced seven fly
ball outs.
“I wouldn't say I
was overpowering today, but I was just trying to keep
hitters off balance and get them out front,” Wood
said.
Martin advanced on
a sac-bunt and was plated for Chatham's first run on a
double by Brian Humphries (Pepperdine). Humphries also
scored after an errant throw to third by Cotuit catcher
James McCann (Arkansas) on a steal attempt.
Wood was a closer
for his junior college team, but expects to move into
the starting rotation when he transfers to the
University of Southern California this fall. His
experience in close games was a bonus in his second
start and third appearance for Cotuit.
“I'm still trying
to work up my innings a little bit, but I felt good,”
Wood said.
Wood was emphatic
in crediting his defense for his solid outing, but just
one of Chatham's three runs was earned. The Anglers
managed just five hits to Cotuit's seven.
Devine (VMI)
surrendered the game-winning swing, but the unearned run
went on the line of A.J. Achter (Michigan St.), who took
the loss (1-1). Achter came on to get the third out in
the sixth inning and allowed two hits over the next two
and one-third.
“I knew (Achter)
was going to come in and do well,” Wood said.
“Unfortunately it didn't turn out for him.”
Zack Jones (San
Jose St.) pitched the final two innings for the Anglers
to pick up the win (2-0). He allowed one hit and struck
out two.
Chatham starting
pitcher Mike Dennhardt (Boston College) went six innings
and allowed Cotuit's two earned runs on five hits. He
struck out five and did not walk a batter.
Cotuit's Zach
Cone (Georgia) doubled in the third inning and scored on
a C.J. Cron (Utah) groundout after stealing third.
Jordan Leyland (UC-Irvine) drove in Cotuit's second run
in the sixth inning with a broken bat single to
shortstop.
Chatham's lethal
3-4 punch of Oropesa and Joseph Pavone (UConn) was held
hitless on the evening. Ginther had two hits to lead the
Anglers.
“Everyone just
has to pick each other up throughout the game,”
Ginther said. “That's why I think we're so good right
now.”
Levi Hyams
(Georgia) went 2-for-4 as Cotuit's only batter with
multiple hits.
The Kettleers will
visit Wareham's Spillane Field on Wednesday for a 7 p.m.
game.
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