By Ben Fischer
University of Maryland
July 27, 2018
ORLEANS – Notes from the Kettleers’ 6-5 win over the Firebirds.
Bryce Jarvis (Duke) turned in his best start and got the win Friday in Orleans
Jarvis bedevils Birds
In an up-and-down season for Cotuit, one of the more consistent parts of the team has been the starting pitching. Friday in Orleans, pitcher Bryce Jarvis (Duke) became the latest Kettleer to turn in a sterling start, holding the Firebirds to one run on three hits and a walk and picking up his first win of the season.
Jarvis credited his best start of the year to using his secondary pitches and staying in the strike zone.
“I feel like when I couldn’t go to my fastball, my changeup was really working,” Jarvis said. “It was a good pitch to flip out there and get strikes.”
Jarvis said that even during his time in the bullpen, he continued to focus on his next start, and “not getting bogged down in the past, but just continuing to improve.”
Reynolds impresses in debut
When Jarvis exited after six innings, the Kets handed the ball over to an almost completely unknown commodity in pitcher Jason Reynolds (Lehigh). Reynolds seized his opportunity, working perfect sixth, seventh and eighth innings while striking out five.
While Reynolds faltered in the ninth, allowing two earned runs, his terrific relief appearance was enough to showcase the potential that earned him his spot in Cotuit.
Reynolds kept things simple in his first Cape League appearance, saying that his main focus was getting ahead of hitters by “pounding fastballs.”
Reynolds said that he has had a fairly easy transition to the Cape League, a transition made more difficult by the fact that Reynolds is a starter being asked to take on a relief role. Reynolds said the shift forces adjustments but does not rattle him.
“It does have to change slightly because there’s less time,” Reynolds said. “But I mostly just go through my whole routine before the game and then stay loose as the game goes.”
Bizarre ending at Eldredge
Michael Toglia (UCLA) has been making an impact with his bat but his arm made the biggest impact Friday in Orleans
In the ninth inning, the Firebirds appeared poised to steal the game from the Kettleers. They had closed their 6-1 deficit to 6-5 and had runners on second and third with one out. But when center fielder Matt Frazier (Arizona) grounded to Michael Toglia (UCLA) at first, catcher Philip Clarke (Vanderbilt) stayed at third while second baseman Carter Aldrete (Arizona State) took off from second.
Toglia tagged the first base bag for the second out and then looked up to see two Firebirds right near third base. As Aldrete retreated towards second, Toglia ran towards the bag, keeping an eye on Clarke. Finally, Toglia flipped the ball to shortstop Michael Salvatore (Florida State), who tagged Aldrete to end the game.
Toglia said he was expecting Clarke to take off on the slowly hit grounder and that he delayed making his throw to second until he was sure the tying run would not try to score.