Kettleers Pick Up 10th Win Versus Gatemen, 6-3

By Megan Kerr, Asst. Web Editor
July 7, 2005

WAREHAM, MA – Clutch hitting in the ninth inning by Brad Boyer (Arizona, 1-5 batting, 1 RBI) and Bryan Harris (LSU, 2 for 5 batting, 2 RBI) gave the Kettleers a hard-fought six to three victory over the Wareham Gatemen. The Kettleers fought back from an early three to one deficit to tie up the game in the seventh and then pulled ahead in the top of the ninth when they scored three runs to put the game out of reach for the Gateman. Both starting pitchers, Jeff Manship (Notre Dame, 7 Ks, 2 BB) and Bruce Billings (San Diego St., 5 Ks, 0 BB), pitched extremely well for their teams, but the relief pitching of the Kettleers was able to contain the Gateman attack while the Kettleers offense went to work against the relief pitching of the Gateman to get the victory.

With the Gatemen leading, 2-0, entering the fifth inning, the Kettleers were finally able to get a run against Billings, who had only allowed one hit up to that point. Actually, the Kettleers managed to score without getting a hit in the fifth inning as Shane Jordan (Stetson, 1 for 4 batting) reached on an error and then scored on a throwing error by the shortstop. Wareham answered right back in the sixth inning when Joel Collins (South Alabama, 2-4 batting, 1 RBI) singled to bring in Carson Kainer (Texas) to get back their two run lead. With the Kettleers batters not able to get hits against Billings, it seemed that they wouldn’t be able to get their offense going, but their bats finally came to life in the seventh when they tied the game up.

Shane Jordan singled with one out to start the rally, and Todd Davison (Delaware, 2-4 batting) followed with another single to force the Gatemen coach to take Billings out of the game. After Bobby Bramhall (Rice) got one out, he then had to face J.P Padron (LSU, 1 for 1 batting, 2 RBI) who came in as a pinch hitter for Devin Thomas (Brown). Padron singled to score two runs and tie the game up at three apiece, and with the Kettleers attack now alive, it seemed that they would surely go ahead shortly.

In the ninth inning, the revived Kettleers offense finally got their first lead of the game against relief pitcher Jeff Mandel (Baylor, 1 K, 0 BB) who loaded the bases with one out to put some extreme pressure on himself. Mandel was unable to walk away from the inning with no damage as Brad Boyer sinlged to bring in the game-deciding run. Bryan Harris added some insurance when he singled with two outs to score two runs, which increased his teamleading RBI to 15, and give the Kettleers a three run lead. Chris Toneguzzi (Purdue, 4 Ks) picked up his first win whne he put down the Gatemen in order in the bottom of the ninth to secure a victory for the Kettleers. Hopefully the hot hitting of the Kettleers will continue against Bourne tommorow where Cotuit will pursue its second victory in a row.