By Matt Schneidman
June 30, 2014

Brewster released Jackson Glines (Michigan) last week after he hit .471 in seven games with the Whitecaps.

It’s certainly a puzzling move, but Cotuit isn’t complaining.

Glines already has five hits in three games with the Kettleers, and has started at each spot in the outfield. He’ll look to continue his hot streak when Cotuit (9-9) hosts Chatham (8-9-1) on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Lowell Park.

“My coach contacted (Cotuit head) Coach (Mike) Roberts and he said he had a full contract for me,” Glines said. “…and I just cruised over here.”

According to Glines, Brewster would’ve let him go “even if he was hitting 1.000” simply because he was a temporary player and all of the outfielders under permanent contracts arrived later.

Michigan head coach Erik Bakich knows Cotuit head coach Mike Roberts, so he placed a call to the Kettleers’ man in charge after Glines was released by the Whitecaps.

“(Bakich) told me (Glines) could hit and I agree,” Roberts said. “He’s very balanced.”

In Monday’s thrashing of Bourne in which every starter recorded a hit, Glines certainly got in on the fun. He went 3-for-5 with three singles, along with a RBI and two runs scored.

He also started in left field, which was the third outfield spot he’s started in since coming to Cotuit.

“I feel like I can bring quite a bit of versatility,” Glines said. “I mean a fly ball is a fly ball anywhere, so just a little different angle is all you’ve got to worry about.”

Glines is a 22-year-old rising senior with the Wolverines, so he has a year or two more of experience than most of the Cotuit roster.

As Roberts has stressed all season, “growing up” is going to be vital to his team’s success down the stretch and Glines is already there.

“You’re talking about guys going into their senior year and they’re very mature,” Roberts said. “If you’re going to be successful out there, you need some of those guys coming out of their junior year because they want to play well, they want to go back and get back in that draft after their senior year.”

Connections are how Roberts finds most of his players, and this connection has paid dividends just three games in.

If you’re mature and can hit for average, you’ll most likely find yourself in the starting lineup for a Roberts-coached squad, something Glines will look to continue to do starting Wednesday.

Said Glines: “I just want to help the team, help them win.”