By Ben Gainsboro, Stetson University
Photos by Josh Muir, Endicott College
Video by Jacob Cohen, Boston University
July 24th, 2019
BREWSTER, MA – Baseball is a weird sport.
The Cotuit Kettleers (17-15-4) came into this game against the Brewster Whitecaps (15-19-1) as the favorites. They had more wins, were stronger against almost all offensive categories, and were 5-2 in their last seven road games.
However, look over the pitching matchup, and it appeared as if it was Brewster that actually had the advantage.
The Whitecaps were pitching their ace, Mason Black (Lehigh), the starter for the East in the CCBL All-Star game just a few nights ago.
Trey Holland was simply dominant against Brewster through five innings on Wednesday night
Meanwhile, for Cotuit, it was Trey Holland (Sewanee) getting the nod. Holland had appeared as a reliever in just one prior appearance this season, allowing three earned against Hyannis on July 17th.
Even crazier? Holland hadn’t started a game since April 8th vs. Millsaps college. For those counting at home, that is 108 days between starts.
Both pitchers ended up lasting five innings.
Both pitches ended up allowing zero runs.
And, it was Trey Holland with the strikeout advantage over the guy who is now tied for 4th in the Cape with 34 strikeouts on the season.
“He did a great job for us,” Coach Mike Roberts said postgame. “The key with Trey, for us as coaches, is how to play the defense. If you position your players right, Trey is going to throw strikes, and he is going to throw strikes with three or four different pitches. So, I was really pleased with how he threw today against a really strong Brewster lineup.”
Following a Casey Schmitt (San Diego State) hit by pitch in the top of the sixth, Mason Black’s night was over and Brewster’s top reliever, Sean Fisher (Maryland), came in to replace the Lehigh righty.
The Kettleers were unable to get the bats going against Fisher in the inning, with Parker Chavers (Coastal Carolina) striking out, followed by a Coltyn Kessler (Kentucky) groundout to end the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, Cotuit saw its first action from reliever Cole Beavin (State College of Florida). In his first inning of work, he went 1-2-3, striking out Brewster’s fearsome Tyler Hardman (Oklahoma) to end the inning.
Cole Beavin makes his Kettleers debut on Wednesday night vs. Brewster
“I was really pleased [with Beavin],” Coach Robert said. “I just wanted to get him out there for an inning and take a look at him [and I] liked what I saw. He has a really nice quick arm action, [and his] slider has some nice bite to it.”
Cotuit went down quietly in the top of the seventh before Richard Brereton (Emory) took over for Beavin after he allowed a single to begin the bottom of the seventh.
The next batter, TJ Collett (Kentucky), was able to send a 1-2 fastball over the left field fence for his 8th home run of the season, giving Brewster a 2-0 lead in the process.
The Whitecaps would never look back.
Tyler Gentry (Alabama) would drive in an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth, giving the Whitecaps a cushion for Sean Fisher to close the door, 3-0.
After the game, Coach Roberts was quick to compliment his team’s stellar defense and lack of walks allowed by his pitching staff.
“That’s the reason we are staying in games right now,” Roberts said. “It (cold bats) happens when you go through a season. They (starting pitchers the last two days) did a great job and I always say, there’s a chance to win when you look out on the scoreboard and there are zero errors and zero walks.”
The Cotuit bats get a chance to wake up on Thursday night when Harwich (17-19) returns to Lowell Park. First pitch in that game is set for 5:00 P.M.