By Zach Kaplan
Penn State University
July 19, 2018
COTUIT– After a rough first half of the season, Michael Toglia (UCLA) is looking to pick things up as the last few weeks of the regular season approach.
Michael Toglia (UCLA) went 2 for 4 with a run and RBI in Cotuit’s 7-2 win over Hyannis on Thursday.
After Hyannis cut the Cotuit lead to 4-1 in the fifth inning, Toglia came right back with an RBI single to score Peyton Burdick for his 12th RBI of the season. Two batters later, he would come around to score on Duke Ellis’ (Texas) RBI single to put the game away for Cotuit.
“I just felt confident today. The swing never really changes, and it felt good to get the ball on the barrel.”
Toglia went 2 for 4 on Thursday, with a run and the aforementioned RBI to help Cotuit to a 7-2 win over the Harbor Hawks, helping clinch the Barnstable Patriot Cup for the Kettleers.
“For the first time, [Toglia] swung the bat like I know he can,” said Coach Roberts postgame. “He came for extra work today, and spent a good amount of time talking about what he needed to do.”
Wolforth able to notch first hit, RBI of the season
Garrett Wolforth (Dallas Baptist) had his first hit and RBI in Thursday’s win over Hyannis.
Garrett Wolforth (Dallas Baptist) had his first hit in his second game of the 2018 season, driving in the first two runs for the Kettleers on an two-RBI double in the second inning.
Wolforth himself came around to score in the ensuing at-bat when Will Robertson (Creighton) drove him in with an RBI single. He finished 1 for 4 with a run and RBI, his first of each so far this season.
It was also his first appearance at catcher in 2018, previously serving as the designated hitter in Tuesday’s loss against Harwich.
He deserves to catch, he’s worked incredibly hard,” said Roberts. “He hasn’t had a chance to swing the bat as much as he would like, but we have strengthened ourselves at catcher with Garrett and Zach [Humphreys] behind the plate.
Chevalier’s excellent start clinches Patriot Cup
The Kettleers celebrate with the Barnstable Patriot’s Cup, which they clinched in Thursday’s win over Hyannis.
Luke Chevalier (Northern State) picked up his second win of the season on Thursday, going six innings, giving up one earned run on three hits while striking out four.
“Definitely just keeping [Hyannis] off-balance worked for me today,” said Chevalier after the game. “I didn’t have the sharpest stuff with my off-speed pitches, but I threw my fastball early and often, got some pop-ups and managed to be effective that way.”
It was the first start for ‘Chevy’ since June 22, when he threw three innings against Brewster, allowing three earned runs on six hits in a no-decision that Cotuit wound up losing 5-4.
After the game, Roberts was thankful for Chevalier stepping up with a solid start in the midst of the Cotuit rotation being seemingly plagued by injuries.
“I really am appreciative of the pitchers who have come out and not started in a while, but have given us a chance to win,” said Roberts. “[Zane] did it last night, and Luke came out and pitched well tonight for us.”
Chevalier now sits at 2-0 on the season with a 2.62 ERA. He now has 19 strikeouts in 24 innings on the season for Cotuit, who clinched the Barnstable Patriot’s Cup on Thursday with the win.
Brian Roberts spends time with Kettleers, provides advice to young hitters
Brian Roberts back in his playing days with the Baltimore Orioles.
It’s no secret that baseball runs in the Roberts family. Mike, of course the manager of the Kettleers for fifteen seasons, previously coached at UNC for two decades. But recently, Mike’s son has been a helpful advice-giver for some of the Cotuit hitters.
Brian Roberts, 40, played for the Baltimore Orioles for thirteen seasons from 2001-13, and has been seen around Lowell Park over the last week or so. He has helped out with Toglia, who continues to work on providing the offensive firepower that the Kettleers are after.
“Brian was giving us the inside scoop on what it’s like to be in the major leagues,” said Toglia. “He was letting me in some tips and things that helped him to be successful…I definitely was able to learn a few things from him.”
The former two-time All-Star and his family reside in Sarasota, Fla. during the year but he mentioned that he tries to bring his family to the Cape for about a week each summer, attending Kettleers games when they play at Lowell Park.