Cotuit’s offense has scored the most runs in the league so far this season. Chatham pitchers own the best ERA.
It was more of the same for both Friday night.
Cotuit racked up eight runs in an 8-2 victory over Brewster, while Chatham shut-out Harwich 5-0. Both teams improved to 3-1, tops in their division.
The Kettleers have scored 29 runs, averaging more than seven per game. The top three players in the league in RBI are all from Cotuit.
Friday’s performance featured 11 hits and a five-run second inning that sent them on their way. Mason Dodd (Belmont Abbey) – who I’m guessing is the first Belmont Abbey player to play on the Cape – continued his hot start with a 2-for-5, three RBI day. Allbry Major (Xavier) went 3-for-5 and is now hitting a league-best .583 through four games. Nick Gonzales (New Mexico State) added two hits and Casey Schmitt (San Diego State) homered.
There was also some strong pitching for the Kettleers, particularly out of the bullpen. Joseph Nahas (Georgia Southern) struck out six in a three-inning save.
In Chatham, it was the pitching trend that continued. RJ Dabovich (Arizona State), Luke Bartnicki (Georgia Tech), Dane Acker (Oklahoma) and Dawson Merryman (Midland) combined on the shutout, with Harwich totaling seven hits. Bartnicki earned the win. Chatham now has a 1.50 team ERA, by far the best in the league.
Chatham’s offense was led by Paxton Wallace (Wichita State), who hit a two-run home run.
Falmouth 9, Hyannis 9
A pitchers duel for four innings turned into a wild slugfest down the stretch as Falmouth and Hyannis played to the first tie of the season. Hyannis scored three runs in each of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, emerging with a 9-4 lead. Falmouth tied the game with five runs in the seventh. Jared DeSantolo (Florida Atlantic) had three hits for Hyannis, while Hunter Goodman (Memphis) homered. For Falmouth, returning Commodore Hayden Cantrelle (Louisiana Lafayette) homered. Despite the offensive burst, there was some great pitching in the final innings. Hyannis’ Konnor Ash (Missouri) struck out five in three innings and now leads the league with 11 across two three-inning relief stints.
Orleans 4, Wareham 4
The first tie of the season was followed closely by the second. Orleans led 4-0 but Wareham scored three in the fourth and one in the seventh, and it was all zeroes from there. An RBI double by Kameron Guangorena (Cal State Fullerton) brought in the tying run for Wareham. Jack Winkler (San Francisco) added two RBI. Orleans got RBI from Raymond Gil (Miami) and Julio Marcano (NJIT).
What to Watch
Bourne will look for its first win as it visits Falmouth, who tied last night but remains unbeaten.