By: Sean Bailey, Writing Intern, Providence College
July 16, 2013
(Kettle Talk with Alexa Galloway PREGAME and POSTGAME)
(Video Highlights by Connor Sullivan HERE)
(Greg Mroz with first baseman Yale Rosen in KETTLEERS AUDIO EXTRA)
(Greg Mroz with closer Brian Miller in KETTLEERS AUDIO EXTRA)
(Greg Mroz with Bourne broadcasters Ryan Connelly Holmes and Justin Rocke in a Cape Cod Baseball League RECAP PODCAST)
COTUIT – There is an old saying in baseball that goes, “Good pitching always beats good hitting.” This statement may be cliché, but it has proven true yet again for the Cotuit Kettleers, as they bested the Bourne Braves 2-1 in an old fashioned pitchers duel.
“Everybody did well. Both starting pitchers did a great job, nobody really hit the ball very hard at all,” said Manager Mike Roberts following the game. “It was one of those days where I didn’t feel like anybody was going to score.”
Jared Walsh kept the Braves off balance. Photo by Joe Cavanaugh
Jared Walsh (Georgia) got the start for the Kettleers, his first start since June 24 at Chatham. And he looked great, going 4 1/3 scoreless innings, including four innings of no hit baseball. He controlled the ball well, and he did a great job mixing his pitches to keep the Braves off balanced.
“I felt really good, I wish I could have limited my walks, gave me a higher pitch count than I needed,” said Walsh, “I got into a rhythm, and the team was fielding well behind me.”
He was followed by Joel Seddon (South Carolina) who pitched 2 1/3 only allowing one run. While for many this is a great relief appearance, Seddon saw his 20 1/3 scoreless inning streak broken. Brian Miller (Vanderbilt) came in the eighth and slammed the door on the Braves, not allowing a hit, and picking off a base runner at first in the ninth to seal the win for the Kettleers.
“This is a pitchers league, and I think you are seeing that lately, ’cause we haven’t scored many runs lately,” said Roberts. “But we will take 2-1 every night if we can come out on the right side of the 2-1.”
Cotuit managed to get on the board first for their fifth time in the past six games. The rally was keyed by two doubles, and an error. It started with a Drew Jackson (Stanford) double down the left field line. Then Logan Ratledge (NC State) hit a sharp ground ball that ducked under the third basemen’s backhand attempt. Jackson was waved home, but was gunned down by the left fielder, after he missed home plate on a hook slide. Ratledge advanced to second on the throw, giving the Kettleers two outs and a runner in scoring position. That is when Jake Fincher (NC State) came up clutch, driving in his Wolfpack teammate with an RBI double that landed down the right field line, giving Cotuit a 1-0 lead.
Drew Jackson gunned down at the plate on a controversial call by the Ump. Photo by Leeann Brothers
The Kettleers pushed across the second run utilizing small ball tactics in the sixth. Danny Diekroeger (Stanford) continued his hot hitting from the lead off spot, with a single through the hole between short and third. He then stole second, and was advanced to third by Rhett Wiseman’s (Vanderbilt) ground ball to second. Yale Rosen (Washington State) then came up with the play of the game, laying down the perfect safety squeeze that rolled past the pitcher and all the way to second, safely scoring Diekroeger and giving the Kettleers a 2-0 lead.
“Yale (Rosen) in practice, even though he is one of our bigger guys is one of our better bunters,” said Roberts. “He really works hard getting over spin on the ball on the right side of the infield. You never know if it is going to work or not but tonight it ended up being a run that helped us get a win.”
The Braves only rally opportunity came in the seventh inning. A lead off single to center by Clinton Freeman (Florida Gulf Coast) opened the inning. After to fly outs to center field, Kris Gardner (Wichita) laced a triple down the right field line scoring Freeman. However, Seddon settled down and forced a ground out to second to dismiss the threat.
The win pushes Cotuit’s record to 18-11. The Kettleers have an off day Wednesday, but return to action Thursday at Chatham at 7 p.m.