By Ben Gainsboro, Stetson University
Photos by Josh Muir, Endicott College
June 16th, 2019
COTUIT – The Kettleers fell to last year’s CCBL champs, the Wareham Gatemen, by a score of 6-0 on Wednesday night. The game came after a brief break for Cotuit, with Monday being a scheduled off-day and Tuesday’s game vs. Chatham having been postponed due to rain.
Tonight, I will be debuting “Five Facts”, a series that will highlight five areas of strength for the Kettleers in their last game.
Without further ado, let’s get down to it!
Nick Gonzales’s (New Mexico State) Plate Discipline
Nick Gonzales stands in the box during Cotuit’s game vs. Wareham on Wednesday night
At first glance, you may want to call Gonzales’s start to his second season with the Kettleers disappointing. The .217 AVG does not jump off the page, but watch this man play and you will see a different story. First off, the New Mexico State product saw a combined twelve pitches in his first two at-bats, with both at-bats ending in walks. Gonzales is patient, calm, and confident when hitting with two strikes, a rare trait in today’s game. On the year, “Gonzo” has nine walks (most in the CCBL) and just two strikeouts. That is a 39% walk rate and just an 8% strikeout rate. For reference, the best baseball player on the planet, Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels) is sporting a 20.6% walk rate, more than 18 points fewer than Gonzales’s. He also has a 17.1% strikeout rate, more than 15 points above Gonzales’s. Granted, it is the MLB, and also, he has played more games, but those numbers are still otherworldly for the Kettleer’s second baseman. Throw in three stolen bases and a home run and what you get is sneaky-excellent start to the season.
Stay Hot, Oviedo!
Adam Oviedo (Oral Roberts) has been simmering at the plate recently for Cotuit. In his last two games, he is 3-5 with two home runs, two RBI, and a walk. In that span, he has raised his batting average by over 160 points and his slugging percentage by over 560. The Kettleer shortstop is one of only a handful of returners for Cotuit, and his leadership both in the clubhouse and on the field will be key moving later into the season.
Allbry Major’s Quiet Hit Streak
Allbry Major gets ready to swing at a pitch during Cotuit’s Wednesday night game vs. Warehan
With all of the fireworks surrounding the deep fly’s that Cotuit has hit on the season, Allbry Major’s (Xavier) hitting streak has gone under the radar. With a single in this game, Major has now hit safely in each of the five games he has appeared in this year for the Kettleers. His average, sitting at a freakish .563, is first on the team through eight games. The big outfielder appeared hobbled and was removed later in this contest, but he looks well on his way (health permitting) to being one of the top hitters in the CCBL.
The Bullpen Shuts Down the Gate(men?)
The Kettleers bullpen was once again stellar on Wednesday night. In 5.2 innings of work, the three relievers of Chris Holcomb (Tulane), Matt Mervis (Duke), and Richard Brereton (Emory) combined for zero earned runs (one run total), four strikeouts, and just two walks. Walks plagued the Kettleers bullpen earlier in the season, so seeing this lights-out performance was an encouraging sign moving forward. On the year, Holcolm sports a 2.25 ERA, Mervis a 0.00 ERA, and Brereton a 1.80 ERA.
Hometown Cody Pasic Continues to be Anything but Basic
Cody Pasic (Maine) has been rock solid behind the dish so far this season for Cotuit. The catcher, who grew up in Cotuit, is 4-9 with two RBI and a walk through eight games. His average, which currently sits at .444, is second on the Kettleers behind only Major. Pasic figures to split time with Coltyn Kessler (Kentucky) throughout the year, but his rock solid start has been a pleasant surprise for Coach Roberts and his club just nine days into the 2019 CCBL schedule.
What’s Next?
Cotuit heads to Bourne to face off with the Braves (3-4) on Thursday night at Doran Park. First pitch is set for 6 P.M.