By Nick Solari, Writing Intern, Quinnipiac University
June 16, 2013

Castellano went 2-4 hits, 3 RBI’s,  Photo by Leeann Brothers

FALMOUTH – For a hitter, baseball is a game of rhythm. When a lineup is in sync and getting good at-bats it makes it easy on the pitching staff.

Fortunately for the Cotuit, that was the case tonight.

Led by second basemen Connor Castellano (Santa Fe JC) the Kettleers improved to 3-1 on the season beating Falmouth by the final score of 7-1. The seven runs Cotuit scored is the second most by any offense on the Cape so far this season, trailing only Chatham.

Castellano went 2-4 on the evening with a home run and 3 RBI’s, improving his batting average to .444 (4-9) on the season.

The Kettleers got on the board first in the top of the second inning when the lefty homered to deep right.

“I was just trying to get a pitch to hit in the gap,” Castellano said. I was seeing the ball pretty well, and got a good pitch to hit.”

The Cotuit pitching staff combined to give up only seven hits and one run on the night, coming in the bottom half of the ninth inning. They struck out 11 batters combined, seven from started Alex Haines (Seton Hill).

Haines went the first four innings, giving up only 3 hits.

“I try to get our pitching staff to understand how to throw strikes,” head coach Mike Roberts said. “That’s our number one goal. If we can throw strikes and let the defense take care of everything we’ll be good.”

Haines struck out 7 in 4 innings. Photo by Leeann Brothers

Alec Palioca (Wheaton) then threw the next third of an inning and was replaced by Christian Cecilio (San Francisco). Cecilio went 3.2 innings, gave up one hit and struck out four.

Brian Miller (Vanderbilt) threw the final frame. He gave up two hits and the only run the Commodores scored.

Mike Ford (Princeton) had three hits on the night, two doubles and a single. Leadoff hitter Bradley Zimmer (San Francisco) had a single and a double, as well.

Hunter Cole (Georgia), Will Remillard (Coastal Carolina), and Steven Duggar (Clemson) each added an RBI for the Kettleers.

Cotuit put together a four-run eight inning to put the game out of reach.

“Were doing good,” Castellano said. “Coach Roberts has brought us in, and we’ve done a lot of work together as a team. We’re really close, it’s a great club, and I’m excited to be a part of it. “

The Kettleers (3-1) look to continue their recent success tomorrow in Brewster. First pitch is at 5 p.m.