By Courtney Swift
Kettleers Lead Writer
June 17, 2012
COTUIT – Errors caught Cotuit again Sunday as they lost to the Wareham Gatemen 12-3. The Kettleers allowed for 12 runs, (five unearned) on 13 hits Father’s Day putting them at 2-2 on the young season. Jordan Smith got the start on the mound for the Kettleers pitching four innings and giving up five runs (three earned). He struck out two and walked none.
After giving up four errors Saturday in Bourne, Cotuit gave up five in their effort against Wareham. “I think again you see this league is the best at being amateur baseball and when you make mistakes you get hurt really bad,” coach Mike Roberts said. “You gotta be very mature and play in this league and we were very mature for two games and kind of immature for two games so now we just gotta find a combination that will work.”
With the large pitching staff, new faces continued to see some time on the mound in relief. Dusty Isaacs (Georgia Tech) threw one and two thirds innings giving up five runs (one earned) on four hits. He struck out three and walked one. Jacob Stone (Weatherford JC) closed out the last two innings giving up two runs on four hits and striking out two.
Cameron Griffin (Stetson) also pitched one and a third innings allowing one hit and walking one in relief of Smith.
It wasn’t just the errors helping the Gatemen score runs, but the long ball. Wareham hit three homeruns on the night. Despite the poor showing on the field, some Kettleers did get things going at the plate. Aramis Garcia (Florida International) went 2-4 and Galli Cribbs Jr. went 2-2 with one RBI collecting his first two hits of the Cape League season. Cribbs was happy about his performance despite a hurt hand from getting jammed during his last at bat. Alex Johnson (Univ. Miami Ohio) collected the other two RBIs on the night.
Roberts continued to try players in different positions and get some new faces Cape League action. Cribbs saw some time at second after playing mostly shortstop so far, Tony Kemp (Vanderbilt), who arrived Saturday, saw his first Cape time in right field, and Mike Ford (Princeton) saw some time at the plate. “That’s the hardest thing early in the year,” said Roberts. “You don’t want to get blown out, but when it happens at least it does give you a chance to get people in and kind of see what they can do.”
The newest face on the Kettleers was Angel Rosa. Rosa played against Cotuit Saturday for Bourne but was released after the game. The Kettleers immediately picked him up and gave him a permanent contract. “It was tough letting them go [the Bourne team] because I mean had already developed a relationship with them but I mean I got what I wanted, a full time contract and that’s why I’m here, to play.”
Cotuit looks to Kevin Ziomek (Vanderbilt) Monday to pick up the Kettleers third win of the season. “Most of the SEC players are pretty polished so I expect them to walk out on the mound and pitch very maturely,” Roberts said. “My biggest concern right now is what’s the best combination behind them to play defense.” The Kettleers will face the 0-4 Hyannis Harbor Hawks.
To hear more post game interviews, go to http://www.youtube.com/