By Matt Schneidman
August 10, 2014
After knocking off the Cape League’s best team in the Western Division semifinals, Cotuit puts Bourne in its rearview mirror and moves on to face Falmouth in the division finals.
The series will begin at Arnie Allen Diamond at 5:30 on Sunday, and while Alex Young will start for the Commodores, Mike Roberts has yet to announce who will get the nod for the Kettleers.
Here are four things to keep note of ahead of Game 1:
Sunday is a rare day in which Adam Whitt is unavailable
After being credited with saves in Games 2 and 3 against the Braves – while throwing 4 2/3 total scoreless innings – the submariner from Nevada-Reno will have to take a day off despite saying he feels good to go. If Cotuit is to win Game 1, it would be a luxury to have Whitt available to close Game 2 if the situation presents itself, and that’s what Whitt said is the desired scenario.
Who will get the ball to start for Cotuit
Roberts decided to start Jake Harper (St. Joseph’s College) in Game 3 of the semifinals after he made an instinctive call at 4 a.m. that morning. So there’s no telling what Cotuit’s head coach will do, but the likely choices include Logan James (Stanford), Luke Leftwich (Wofford) or Nick Eicholtz (Alabama). James and Leftwich both have had lengthy rest time and are fresh and while Eicholtz threw in Game 2, he only faced three batters.
Kyle Holder is on a tear
Since returning from a knee injury, Holder has started every game for the Kettleers. He’s recorded hits in nine of the last 10 games, and is 5-for-14 in the playoffs thus far. Holder also turned three double plays in Game 3 against Bourne and if he continues his surge both at the dish and at short, the San Diego junior could be the key to a repeat championship.
Alex Young is dangerous on the hill
TCU’s Young will get the start for the Commodores in Game 1, and he’s been nothing short of excellent this season. An all-star selection, Young went 3-0 with a 1.50 earned run average. In 30 innings, he only walked three batters and struck out 28. In his one appearance against Cotuit, Young threw seven innings of one-run ball in a 7-5 Falmouth win.
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