By: Sean Bailey, Writing Intern, Providence College
August 5, 2013

The season is over, the playoffs are here, and Kettleers fans find their team in the title hunt for the second consecutive season. The Kettleers were in a dog fight for first in the Western Division, but eventually fell to third, finishing one point behind Hyannis for first, and Falmouth for second. As a result Cotuit has drawn the Commodores in the first round, which begins Tuesday at Falmouth at 7:30PM. The matchup pits the top two teams in homers in the Cape Cod League. Let’s take a look back on the season that was against the Commodores.

June 16

Cotuit 7 Falmouth 1

Falmouth – Cotuit jumped all over the Commodores early and often in their fourth game of the season, the first matchup with the Western Division rivals. Alex Haines (Seton Hill) got the start and went four innings, surrendering only three hits. He was relieved by Christian Cecilio (University of San Francisco), who tossed 3 2/3 allowing one hit. Cotuit’s offense was powered by Connor Castellano (Sante Fe) who hit a homer with three RBIs. The Kettleers also enjoyed a four run eighth inning to put the game out of reach.

July 3

Falmouth 5 Cotuit 3

Cotuit – The long ball was the story of the second meeting between these two squads. The Commodores lineup was fully locked and loaded as their fearsome lineup streamed in. And Cotuit’s first encounter with that lineup was less than stellar. Chris Ellis (Ole Miss) got the start and gave up a two run homer to Dylan Davis (Oregon State), a solo shot to Kevin Cron (TCU), and another homer to Davis. Mike Ford (Princeton) launched a three run homer to narrow the lead to 4-3, but the Kettleers could not power any more runs.

July 4

Falmouth 13 Cotuit 6

Falmouth – Cotuit again was destroyed by the powerful lineup of Falmouth on the fourth of July. Falmouth slugged three homers, and knocked Kettleers pitching for 14 hits. Davis was the catalyst for the Commodores again knocking a grand slam. Connor Hale (State College of Florida) hit a two run shot. Ford went 4-4 on the day and Yale Rosen (Washington State) hit two homeruns on the night. His homers supplied five of the six runs for the Kettleers on the day.

July 12

Cotuit 5 Falmouth 1

Cotuit – The Kettleers pitching finally found a way to stymie the mighty Commodores offense in the fourth matchup between the squads. Evan Beal (South Carolina) got the start and looked sharp. He dodged a bases loaded jam in the first, striking out the side. From there he hurled six scoreless innings. Eric Karch (Pepperdine) came in relief and only allowed a run in three innings. Ford had an RBI single to center to start the scoring. Drew Jackson (Stanford) knocked in Ford off a single, Jake Fincher (NC State) ripped an RBI single and Hunter Cole (Georgia) reached on an infield single to spot Cotuit an early 4-0 lead, which was more than enough against Falmouth, with the Kettleers backed by superb pitching.

August 3

Falmouth 9 Cotuit 5

Falmouth – Cotuit did not play the Commodores for nearly a month, but their meeting on the third was vital for both squads as they chased the Western Division crown. Cotuit looked to be in great position to secure the crucial win, as they were up 5-1 at the seventh inning stretch. But that is where the game slipped away. The Commodores plated three quick runs, then took advantage of a huge error that could have ended the inning but instead gave them the lead, which they never came close to relinquishing. Danny Diekroeger (Stanford) knocked a homer and an RBI double, and Caleb Bryson (Samford) smashed a homer for Cotuit.

August 4

Cotuit 9 Falmouth 3

Cotuit – The regular season finale Cotuit exacted their revenge against the Commodores. Cotuit was powered by the long ball, as they smashed four, two of which came from Bryson, and another one from Diekroeger. The Kettleers amassed 12 hits on the day. Pitching was stellar as well, with Vaughn Heyward (Bryant) making his first start and tossing 4 2/3 scoreless. The game was called early in the seventh due to rain.

Cotuit will begin the playoff series Tuesday, August 6, against the Commodores in Falmouth at 7:30.