Story by Steve McCarthy
June 30, 2009
SOUTH YARMOUTH – The only favorable bounce that the Cotuit Kettleers received Tuesday was the one Zach Cone’s three run home run took off the top of the left field fence. That seventh inning shot provided all of Cotuit’s scoring for the game, while the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox widened the scoring margin in the eighth inning and won 7-3 at Red Wilson Field.
The Red Sox, leading 4-3, scored three runs in their final at bat, thanks in part to a collision between Y-D’s Blake Kelso (Houston) and Cotuit first baseman Chris Bisson (Kentucky) on an attempt to catch Kelso off base after a single to right field. The Kettleers questioned the play as interference by the base runner that allowed the throw in to escape out of play, but Kelso was awarded third base and a run scored on the play. Kelso scored two batters later on a fielder’s choice, and Jonathan Jones (Long Beach St.) came in on a sac-fly.
“We just got into both of each other’s way, trying to get out of each other’s way but we ended up going the same way,” Bisson described.
The lead was plenty for Y-D reliever Tyler Burgoon (Michigan) to work with. He pitched the final inning and two-thirds and did not allow a run. The Red Sox are now 9-7-0 heading into a re-match with the 7-6-1 Kettleers in Cotuit on Wednesday.
“We’re our own enemy right now,” Cotuit manager Mike Roberts said of an anemic offensive output by the Kettleers. “We’re creating the situations that are very difficult for us.”
2008 Kettleer and recently added Y-D starting pitcher Mario Hollands (1-0, UCSB) earned the win in his first appearance of 2009. He was relieved by Seth Simmons (East Carolina) with two outs in the seventh inning, and was responsible for two of the runs that crossed on Cone’s first home run of the season, off of Simmons.
“(Hollands) wanted to come back to Cotuit, but at the time when we were talking to him last week we didn’t have a spot,” Roberts said. “Then the league expanded the rosters, and we didn’t know they were going to do that.”
Craig Fritsch (Baylor) made his first start for Cotuit, stepping in for scheduled starter Chris Dwyer (Clemson) who was reportedly in Kansas City meeting with the Royals, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2009 MLB Draft.
Fritsch (0-1), who pitched for Y-D in 2008, took the loss in his fourth appearance for the Kettleers. He allowed Y-D to jump out to an early 4-0 lead in the first three innings, before settling down and finished with a five-inning outing. He allowed eight hits and struck out one, also walked a batter and hit a batter.
“We were a pitcher short, and Craig did it on one day’s rest, but I thought he did a pretty good job,” Roberts said.
Y-D scored a run in each of the first two innings, sparked by three extra-base hits. Mickey Wiswall (Boston College) hit a two-run homer in the third inning.
The Red Sox doubled Cotuit’s hit total with 12, led by Jones who went 3-for-5 with a double and two singles. He reached base in four of his five plate appearances and scored twice. Austin Wates (Virginia Tech) legged out a triple in the first inning.
Cotuit’s Chris Bisson reached base in each of his three at bats. The speedy infielder beat two throws to first, and had Cotuit’s only stolen base in the game.
“Coach is just saying ‘swing the bat, swing the bat, swing the bat’, and I’ve gotten a couple of walks,” Bisson said. “But I usually just try to get on base, and just hustle.”
Matt Grace (UCLA) allowed two hits in an inning and two-thirds of relief for the Kettleers. Frequently utilized submariner Ben Rowen (Virginia Tech) struck out Y-D’s Daniel Butler (Arizona) for the third out in the seventh inning before Y-D’s eighth inning rally.
Wednesday’s make-up game of a June 22 rain-out at Lowell Park is scheduled for 5 p.m.