By: Sean Bailey, Writing Intern, Providence College
June 27, 2013
(Kettle Talk by Alexa Galloway PREGAME)
(Video Highlights by Connor Sullivan HERE)
Another dominant pitching performance by Chris Ellis (Ole Miss). Photo by Joe Cavanaugh
COTUIT – Another day, another game, and another dominant pitching performance from Cotuit is as expected as the sun rising the next day. Thursday’s game against the Wareham Gatemen proved no different as the Kettleers shutout the Gatemen 3-0. Chris Ellis (Ole Miss) and Joel Seddon (South Carolina) combined for the shutout for the Kettleers, who relied on the long ball for their runs. These were supplied by Tim Kiene (Maryland) and Will Remillard (Coastal Carolina).
“Ellis and Seddon threw strikes, and were ahead of the hitters the whole game,” said Manager Mike Roberts following the game. “Every baseball team goes as their pitching goes, and we have been getting great pitching, so we are happy.”
Cotuit’s offense was slowed after a nine run explosion in their last contest against the Gatemen. However, they did not need more than what they got in the first inning. After two quick outs, Kiene stepped into the plate to face Fred Shepard (Amherst). Shepard, who had a stellar start against Cotuit earlier this season, was throwing his normal barrage of breaking pitches. Kiene took one of Shepard’s breaking balls, golfing the low pitch way out to the right field fence, giving Cotuit an early 1-0 lead.
That would be all Ellis would need. Ellis’ strong right arm is no stranger to the Gatemen. He made his first start against the Gatemen going four innings, allowing one run and striking out six. This time he pitched more to contact, and avoided laborious innings like he had in his first start. Ellis only struck out one, but through the first three innings he faced the minimum amount of batters. He scattered four hits, and dodged his only danger of the day in the fifth inning. After getting two quick outs via fly out, Ethan Gross (Memphis) reached first on a swinging bunt. Then an errant throw on a routine ground ball perched runners on second and third. Ellis did not crack though, and he reared back and forced a groundball to second base to end the inning.
“I tried to throw strikes, and let the hitters get themselves out, it’s a lot easier to do that and not try to strike people out.” Said Ellis after the game.
Will Remillard (Coastal Carolina) rounds the bases after his two-run HR in the fifth. Photo By Joe Cavanaugh
Cotuit would pad their cushion in the fifth inning. After two quick outs, Edwin Rios (Florida International) made his first at bat for the squad and took a hanging curveball, sending it into centerfield for a single. That would bring up Remillard. Remillard took another hanging breaking ball and parked it over the left field fence. That swelled the Kettleers lead to 3-0.
“Will played well. We have been working on his hitting,” said Roberts, “He really swings his bat well, and he threw out a big base runner at the end of the game. Will is a catcher exemplar. He really loves it, works hard at it.”
Seddon took over for Ellis in the seventh inning, and he was just as good as his predecessor. He faced the minimum amount of batters through the first two innings. He only ran into slight trouble in the ninth. Sean McMullen (LSU) led off with a single, on a groundball that bounced off of first base and skied to right field for a single. A fielder’s choice recorded one out, and then Rhett Wiseman (Vanderbilt) made a sensational running catch to deep left center, preventing a sure extra base hit. A sinking line drive fell into centerfield for a single, setting runners at first and second with two outs. Seddon settled down, and struck out the next batter on a filthy changeup low, after peppering a couple of fastballs high, to end the game.
The win pushes Cotuit’s record to 9-4, and their record versus the Gatemen is now 3-0. Cotuit’s next game is Friday at Lowell Park at 5 p.m.