Story by Steve McCarthy
July 6, 2009
BREWSTER – The Brewster Whitecaps capitalized on three Cotuit errors and an efficient outing by starting pitcher Kyle Blair to pull away from the Kettleers late and win 4-1.
Blair(1-0, San Diego) was restricted by a pitch limit, but was able to make it through eight innings. He allowed Cotuit’s lone run and five hits, while striking out 10 and walked just two.
“I had my stuff today,” Blair said. “I let my defense work for me, and they made every play.”
The Whitecaps improved to 7-8-3 while scoring their four runs with the help of just four hits. Cotuit fell to 8-8-2 and had six total hits.
“We played a little ‘Brewster Ball’,” Blair said with a laugh. “That seems to be our motto. We get two hits, four runs, and then we get a couple of hits in the eighth and just find a way to get it done.”
David Goforth (Ole Miss) allowed a leadoff base hit in the ninth and walked the following batter, but struck out the next three Kettleers to pick up his second save.
Blair was locked in a pitchers’ duel with Cotuit starter Chad Bell (Walters State JC). Bell was pulled in the sixth inning with a one-hitter intact. He retired sixteen in a row before walking the last batter he faced and was charged with one run
allowed of two that crossed during his outing.
“(Bell) threw extremely well, kept us off balance for a long time,” Brewster Assistant Coach Brad Sanfilippo said. “But we stayed patient on the offensive side, and we got some base runners, and we took advantage of the opportunities.”
Sanfilippo was filling in for suspended Brewster manager Tom Myers.
Brewster scored in their first at bat when Jarrett Parker (Virginia) crossed on an RBI single by Mark Canha (Cal-Berkeley). Parker was aboard after a walk, then was caught in a rundown but slid into second safely as Cotuit shortstop Zack Cox
(Arkansas) could not handle the throw. Parker then stole third base after Canha stepped in.
The Kettleers tied the game 1-1 in the third inning after executing a hit and run to move Zach Cone (Georgia) from first to third following a leadoff single. Jeff Rowland (Georgia Tech) then singled to center to bring Cone in.
After Bell walked Jedd Gyorko (West Virginia) to lead off the seventh inning, submariner Ben Rowen (Virginia Tech) entered and walked Canha. Both base runners advanced on an errant pickoff attempt to first by Cotuit catcher Cody Stanley (UNC Wilmington). Gyorko then scored on a bloop single by Colin Walsh (Stanford).
Walsh got caught between first and second on a steal attempt with Canha at third base, but the delay allowed Canha to score Brewster’s third run.
“We just ran a first and third steal, and when Colin got picked, Mark did a great job on third base and read it and went at the right time,” Sanfilippo said.
Tim Ferguson (Ole Miss) scored the final run in the eighth inning on an RBI single by Gyorko. Ferguson reached on an error and advanced into scoring position with a steal.