|
|
Cheers, Tears, and a Final Win
|
|
by Evan Barber (Living the Dream Blog)
August 2, 2011
COTUIT
- Despite the playoff dreams being shattered, it was another day of
baseball at Lowell Park for the final game of the season.
One
final game for the 2011 Cotuit Kettleers, and it was one final win. The
Kettleers earned their 16th win of the season by a final tally of 3-0.
The
Kettleers drew first blood in the third. Krey Bratsen (Texas A&M)
started things off for the Kettleers with a one-out single. Logan Vick
(Baylor) then walked, pushing Bratsen into scoring position. With two
outs Jordan Leyland (UC Irvine) singled to right scoring Bratsen from
second.
The
Kettleers struck again in the 5th. Kevin Roundtree (Southern
California) smoked a lead-off double to the gap in right-center field
to start the inning. Bratsen then grounded right back to Patrick Lowery
(Columbia) on the mound for the easy out. Lowery, however, tossed the
ball over the head of first basemen Taylor Ard (Washington State)
allowing Bratsen to reach second while Roundtree advanced to third.
Alex Yarbrough (Mississippi) grounded out to first but scored
Roundtree. With Bratsen on third Vick lined one to right and Bratsen
trotted home for his second run of the game. Bratsen’s trot would be
the final run of the summer.
Four Kettleers pitchers combined to shut out the Whitecaps in this one.
Kevin
Ziomek (Vanderbilt) started for the Kettleers and struck out four
through his six innings of work. Ziomek allowed just three hits, and
looked rejuvenated and back to the pitcher we saw on his first start.
Kendall
Graveman (Mississippi State) and Michael Clevinger (Seminole State)
pitched the 7th and 8th respectively. Graveman gave up just one hit in
his inning and struck out one of the three batters he faced. In the 8th
Clevinger gave up two hits and also struck out one.
Bobby
Wahl (Mississippi) was back in form in the 9th to shut the door. Wahl
struck out two of the four batters he faced and didn’t give up a hit.
The sole base runner of the inning reached on an error by Torston Boss
(Michigan State) at third, the only Cotuit error of the game.
Before
the game General Manager Bruce Murphy presented the 2011 team Most
Valuable Player and Pitching MVP. The MVP went to the slugger, Victor
Roache. The pitching MVP trophy will not live far from Roache’s MVP
trophy as fellow Georgia Southern Eagle Chris Beck was this year’s top
pitcher.
Despite
the playoffs being out of the picture, the Cotuit faithful flocked to
Lowell Park for the final day of the 2011 season. Ivan “Have a Hit”
Partridge climbed into the home bleachers giving some direction to one
section of Cotuit fans. After Ivan’s 1,2,3 call the entire section
hollared out one final “HAVE A HIT”.
It
was an emotional post game ceremony for players, host families, and
coaches. Coach Mike Roberts was in tears as he thanked his men for the
effort they gave him this year. When the huddle broke up Roberts walked
around hugging each of his players.
The end. Cape League baseball in Cotuit is done for the summer, and it sure has been a ride. |
|
