By Ben Gainsboro, Stetson University
Photos by Josh Muir, Endicott College
Video by Jacob Cohen, Boston University
June 22nd, 2019
HARWICH – 4:37.
What is the importance of these numbers, you might ask?
Is that the time my coworker and I arrived at Whitehouse Park for the Kettleers scheduled 5:30 P.M. start vs. the Harwich Mariners? No.
Did it have something to do with a specific play? No.
Was it how long it took to drive from Cotuit to Harwich with Cape traffic? Maybe later in the year, but no.
Well then, what was it?
4:37 was the total time of this baseball game. Four hours and thirty-seven minutes.
The 5:30 P.M. projected start time got pushed back to 6:30 P.M. because of an unexpected thunder cloud in the area. Right away, that is an hour shaved.
Then, with a of score 0-0 in the top half of the third and two on for Mason Dodd (Belmont Abbey), a lightning strike in the distance delayed the game another forty-five minutes.
We already have an hour and forty-five minutes down, and we have only played two innings of baseball.
When the Kettleers and Mariners re-took the field at around 8 P.M., about three-quarters of the fans had returned home, returned to the warmth. Those that stayed were bundled in blankets, towels, jackets, and sweaters alike.
It was cold. Really cold.
Unfortunately for the two teams on the field, their bats returned just as cold following the delay.
“The hitters have to make the adjustment,” Coach Mike Roberts said. “I can throw a lot of batting practice, but they really have to learn how to make adjustments while the ballgame is going on.”
Adam Oviedo takes a swing during Cotuit’s game against Harwich on Saturday night
Even though the Kettleers were only able to muster one hit, a ninth inning single by Adam Oviedo (Oral Roberts), Cotuit still found themselves up 1-0 in the third after four consecutive drawn walks from Nick Gonzales (New Mexico State), Parker Chavers (Coastal Carolina), Mason Dodd, and Matt Mervis (Duke), who also picked up his second RBI in the process.
Harwich answered in the fourth, however. Two runs scored following an RBI single from Niko Kavadas (Notre Dame) and an error by shortstop Cam Williams (Texas).
The score after the fourth was Harwich 2 and Cotuit 1.
That was how the game would finish, as neither team was able to get anything going offensively in the latter half of this one.
For the Kettleers bullpen, and Chris Holcolm (Tulane) in particular, it was another really solid night. The Tulane product went three innings, striking out two and allowing no runs to cross the plate.
“The thing I like about him is he throws strikes with three pitches,” Coach Roberts said. “When you throw strikes with the three pitches then you have a chance to pitch really well and he’s done that.”
The Kettleers bullpen combined for seven strikeouts in six innings of work. Holcolm dropped his ERA to 1.29 across four appearances while Matt Moore (Purdue) has yet to give up a run across his three innings of relief.
Chris Holcolm throws a pitch during Cotuit’s 2-1 loss to Harwich on Saturday
Following a sizzling first week, Cotuit has returned to .500 with a record of 4-4-1.
For Coach Roberts, he tips his cap to his opponents.
“I wouldn’t call (the last couple games) rough,” Coach Robert said. “I would just say that we’ve seen good pitching and we gotta make an adjustment.”
The Kettleers will attempt to make those adjustments on Sunday, June 23rd, when Cotuit hosts the Brewster Whitecaps (6-3-1) for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 2:30 PM, with the second game starting (tentatively) at 4:00 P.M.