Kettleers Win Final Home Game of Season

For Immediate Release

Cotuit Defeats Crosstown Rival Hyannis, 3-2t

By Megan Kerr/Asst. Web Editor

COTUIT, MA — The last day of the regular season started and ended well as it began with a ceremony to honor the host parents and MVP's, which was followed by a close three to two victory over the Hyannis Mets. All awards were voted on by the players, with the first MVP, the one for a non-position player, going to James Simmons (UC Riverside) who, with a 4-2 record, led the Kettleers with 44 strikeouts on the season and had a steller 1.18 ERA in his fifty-three plus innings of work. Next up was the MVP for a position player, which was given both to Justin Smoak (South Carolina) and Eric Farris (LMU). Smoak led the league with eleven homeruns on the season and led the team with twenty-seven RBI's coming into the game, while Eric led the Kettleers both in average and stolen bases with a .308 average and 16 stolen bases.

  After the ceremonies, it was time to get down to business, but it was Hyannis who jumped out to an early lead against Cotuit starter Jay Brown (Young Harris, 1BB, 2K, 1H). In the second inning, Sean O'Brien (Virginia Tech, 1 for 4, 1 RBI) singled to bring in James Darnell (South Carolina, 2 for 2), giving the Mets a one nothing lead. Cotuit wasn't to be outdone in their last home game of the regular season though, as in the fifth inning their offence finally got on track. With one out, Kellen Kulbacki (James Madison, 1 for 4) singled off of Hyannis starter Charlie Furbush (St Josephs, 0BB, 7K, 6H) to get the attack started, which Tony Thomas (Florida, 2 for 3) then followed with another single to put the tying run in scoring position for James Simmons (2 for 3, 2RBI). Simmons, proving that he is as able with his bat as he is with his arm, then proceeded to double to bring in both players to give Cotuit a one-run lead.

  Another MVP got into the act as in the sixth inning Eric Farris (0 for 4, 1 RBI) laid down a squeeze bunt, scoring Matt Angle (Ohio State, 1 for 4) whose great slide to the outside edge of the plate allowed the Kettleers to go up by two runs. It appeared that the two runs were going to be enough as Cotuit went into the ninth inning still leading the Mets by two, but Hyannis wasn't going to go down without a fight. With the bases loaded and one out, Dan Runzler (UC Riverside, 0BB, 1K, 1 H) came on in relief to attempt to save the game for the Kettleers. Ramon Corona (South Carolina, 1 for 3, 1 RBI) then singled and it appeared as if the Mets were going to tie the game up. A perfect throw by Kulbacki gunned down the tying run at home plate, and then Runzler struck out the next batter to secure for Cotuit their twenty-sixth victory of the season.

  After the victory, the Barnstable-Patriot presented Cotuit with the Barnstable-Patriot Cup, which is given to the team that wins the season series between the Kettleers and the Mets. This was the third year the Cup has been given out and by taking the season series 5 to 1 this year, Cotuit retained the Cup and has now won it two out of three times. Tomorrow, Cotuit goes on the road to face the eastern division leading Y-D Red-Sox for their last tune-up game before playoffs.