By Will Kraus, Bates College
Photos by Josh Muir, Endicott College
August 4, 2019
What Happened
Cotuit advanced to the West Division Championship Series after a 4-1 win in game three of the first round of the Cape League playoffs over the Wareham Gatemen at Spillane Field on Sunday.
G is for Gonzales: Nick Gonzales (New Mexico State) was deservingly named the MVP of
Gonzales with the Cape League MVP trophy on Saturday
the Cape League on Saturday at Lowell Park. Gonzales has only missed base in one of the forty-five games he has played for the Kettleers in 2019. The All-Star second baseman currently has a 21 game on-base streak to go along with an 11 game hit-streak.
K is for Kessler: After a tough regular season from the plate in which Coltyn Kessler (Kentucky) batted just .138, Kessler has really stepped up in crunch time during the postseason. After three games in the playoffs Kessler is batting .333 with 3 RBI.
M is for Mervis: Matt Mervis (Duke) has simply torn the cover off the ball lately. In the last four games Mervis has four home runs, including a homer in just the second at bat of the game in the first inning on Sunday, pulling one down the right field line that brought the Cotuit bleachers roaring to their feet. In the playoffs Mervis is batting .333 with two bombs, four total extra-base hits, and 5 RBI. Mervis is 8 for 20 (.400) in his last four games.
Mervis bats at Lowell Park in game 2 of the first round
P is for Pasic: Catcher Cody Pasic (Maine) was brilliant behind and at the plate in the series-clincher at Wareham. Pasic saved multiple runs with big blocks on balls in the dirt and Gatemen on third, also gunning down Adrian Del Castillo (Miami) as he attempted to steal second in the first. The Cotuit native is 3-7 (.429) during the postseason with 4 RBI, extending the Kettleers’ lead to 4-1 in the sixth with a sac-fly RBI deep to left field.
S is for Schmitt: Schmitt was stellar on the mound, throwing five scoreless innings to end the ballgame, striking out seven, and earning the win for Cotuit. Schmitt, who started the game at third base, also showed strong plate discipline, working two walks and scoring one of the Kettleers’ four runs.
Up Next:
The Kettleers will head to Arnie Allen Diamond on Monday at 6 PM to take on the Falmouth Commodores in the first game of the best of three West Division Championship series.