South Yarmouth, MA – The Cotuit Kettleers were on the road again on Friday night, taking on the Y-D Red Sox for the first time in the 2021 season. This was the second straight road game for the Kettleers, and their second consecutive contest against an Eastern conference opponent. Cotuit topped Y-D 16-5. Cotuit (2-2) got back in the win column after two straight defeats, while Y-D (2-2-1) dropped their second straight contest. The Kettleers offense exploded early on, opening an eight-run lead by the top of the third that the Ketts were able to ride to an easy victory.
Ryan Long (Pomona-Pitzer) started his first game of the season for the Ketts, going 2 1/3 innings and allowing just one earned run on four hits. The Pomona Pitzer product was pulled after throwing 65 pitches and was replaced by Jake Brooks (UCLA). Brooks was very effective out of the pen, going 3.2 innings while only surrendering one hit and not allowing a run. This was Brooks’ second straight scoreless outing, as he has thrown 5.1 innings this season without giving up an earned run.
After a quiet first inning for the Ketts offense, Brett Roberts (Florida State) found himself up in the second inning with two outs and runners at first and second. Roberts seized the opportunity to get the scoring started and laced a two-run double to deep left-center field. Roberts has broken out over the past two games, recording five hits in that span. “It feels good to be in the lineup” said Roberts “I was waiting for the opportunity and I’m just trying to get some barrels.”
The Kettleers offense would explode in the top of the third, putting up eight runs on eight hits. Brooks Baldwin (UNC Wilmington) led off the inning with a first-pitch home run to right field. Baldwin stayed hot, recording his second straight multi-hit game. After the homer, Nathan Martorella (Cal) and RJ Schreck (Duke) were hit by pitches and Ben Rice (Dartmouth) singled, loading the bases for Luke Gold (Boston College). The BC Eagle worked a 3-2 count before demolishing a grand slam to left center field. “I was just up there trying to see some pitches and get my A-swing off,” said Gold of the at-bat.
Eric Brown (Coastal Carolina) and Roberts followed the grand slam with a single and double respectively, immediately putting the pressure back on Y-D. Cole Cummings (UCSB) continued the inning with an RBI single, and Dylan Beavers (Cal) followed suit with a two-RBI single to make the score 10-2 in favor of Cotuit. The half-inning was the best of the season so far, as every single person in the lineup was able to get on base.
The Ketts had yet another inning in which they put a crooked number on the scoreboard, this time putting up four in the top of the sixth. Schreck and Gold led off the inning with two consecutive singles, and after a strikeout, the team’s hottest hitter came to the plate. Roberts already had two doubles and two RBI’s on the day, but obviously wasn’t satisfied as he belted his first homer of the season to left-center field. After the homer, Cummings singled and advance to second on an error. Beavers drove in the fourth run of the inning for the Ketts on another RBI single to give the Kettleers their 14th run.
In the very next inning, RJ Shreck worked a two-out walk, allowing Gold to hit his second homer of the game, and his third in the past two games. Gold, who hit a home run last night in Orleans, is 4-8 with three homers so far this season. “When I get the chance to be in this talented lineup, I want to show my best stuff” said Gold. The homer gave The Kettleers offense their 16th run of the game, easily their highest run total of the season.
The game ended after just eight innings due to the low light levels and the Kettleers walked away from Y-D back at .500 for the year.
Up Next: The Kettleers will play another eastern division foe tomorrow as they travel to Brewster to take on the Whitecaps. The game will be played at 5:00 PM at Stony Brook Field.