Matt Liberman
Syracuse University
June 29, 2017
Vavra went 2-3 with an RBI and a stolen base in the 12-6 win over Hyannis.
Terrin Vavra (Minnesota) reached base four times against Hyannis, just days after finishing concussion protocol.
For nearly two weeks Vavra sat in the dugout, unable to play, and watched his teammates every day.
“Your body feels good,” Vavra said, “and your head feels good at some points. But you have to take it easy because one bump can be very detrimental. It was very frustrating to sit and watch when I felt good.
The Golden Gopher missed thirteen days after taking a ball to the head when fielding a bad hop. Vavra was the team’s starting shortstop entering the season, forcing the team to adjust its defensive plan. Now, three games back in the Cotuit lineup, Vavra is finding his rhythm from the cleanup spot.
In the Kettleers’ (8-7) 12-6 win against the Harbor Hawks (6-8-1), Vavra finished 2-3 with one RBI, two walks and a stolen base. The game raised the shortstop’s average to .273 this season and his on-base percentage to .385.
With runners on first and second in the bottom of the first inning, Vavra sliced a blooper down the left-field line. His single loaded the bases before the Kettleers cleared them in the next few at-bats. At the end of the first inning, Cotuit led Hyannis 4-0.
In the fourth inning, Vavra knocked in his first RBI on a single to left field. Griffin Conine (Duke) came around to score. After the single, Vavra stole second before the inning ended with a Zack Kone (Duke), 6-3 groundout.
The designated hitter walked for the second time in the sixth inning, eventually coming around to score for the second time. Through six innings against Hyannis, Vavra had two hits, two walks, two runs scored and a stolen base.
“You have to like the things that he does,” Cotuit manager Mike Roberts said. “He had a really good night in the cleanup spot.”
The return of Vavra not only means an added bat in the lineup, but an extra man on the field. Cotuit is losing Conine this weekend to the College World Series Home Run Derby in Omaha, and the Kettleers are short on position players because they want to make sure that they have enough pitching depth to make it through the season.
“It’s really good to have him back in the lineup,” Kone said. “Especially someone that can play anywhere in the infield and hit anywhere in the lineup.”
Cotuit’s next challenge is at home on Friday against Wareham (6-9). The two division rivals have yet to play this season.
Game Notes
- Brett Kinneman (NC State) led Cotuit in hits and number of times on base for the first time this season. The left-fielder finished 3-4 with a two-run home run, four runs and two walks.
- Griffin Conine continues to slide. Tonight’s 0-4 outing marks the first time all season he has failed to hit in back-to-back games.
- Greyson Jenista (Wichita State) is back in the two-hole. After missing the game against Orleans on Wednesday, Jenista finished 2-5 with three runs and an RBI.
- Thursday’s win marks the second time this season that every single Cotuit batter got aboard. Conine walked in the fourth inning. He was the only Kettleers’ batter without a hit.