Cotuit Remains Five Points Ahead in First Place Atop the Western Division
By Megan Kerr/Asst. Web Editor
July 16, 2006
COTUIT, MA — Cotuit hadn’t suffered a loss for seven games, but the streak finally came to an end yesterday as the Kettleers fell to the Falmouth Commodores two to nothing. The Kettleers offence was unable to get anything going as it was shut out for the first time this season. James Simmons (UC Riverside, 0BB, 6K, 4H) pitched extremely well over seven and two-thirds innings, striking out six to give him a team-leading 27 strikeouts on the season, but a lack of offensive firepower by his offence caused him to suffer his first loss of the season. Falmouth jumped on Simmons early as with two outs Brett Wallace (Arizona State, 1 for 3, 1 RBI) doubled to bring in Andrew Walker (Texas Christian, 1 for 4) to give the Commodores a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
The Kettleers were unable to gain any momentum against the solid pitching by David Kopp, (Clemson, 3 BB, 5 K, 1H) who picked up his second victory of the season, as Cotuit was unable to take advantage of any opportunities given to them. Cotuit’s best opportunity to even the score occurred in the sixth inning as the Kettleers had runners on first and third with no outs. Josh Hula (Ohio State, 0 for 2) attempted a squeeze to score Matt Angle (Ohio State, 2 for 3) from third and it appeared as if Angle was able to slide under Mitch Canham (Oregan State, 0 for 4) prior to being tagged out. The umpire didn’t see it that way as he called Angle out at home and this questionable call appeared to take away the Kettleers energy.
Falmouth added another run in the top of the eighth off of an error by Tony Thomas to give the Commodores a two run lead that looked extremely secure due to the Kettleers bats failure to do anything with Falmouth pitching. After Cory Gearrin (Young Harris, 1BB, 0H, 2K) came on in the top of the ninth and struck out two Commodores to get out of a bases loaded jam, Cotuit had one more opportunity to try to go on the offensive. Sam Demel (Texas Christian, 0BB, 2 K, 0H) came on to close the game out for the Commodores and picked up his sixth save of the season as Cotuit went down quietly in the ninth with a groundout and two strikeouts. Cotuit now travels to play last place Bourne where they hope to get back on track with a victory.