Cotuit recently lost seven of nine games and scored a total of 12 runs in those losses. Falmouth started the season 0-7, and in those losses, scored a total of 10 runs.
Offense hasn’t been as much of a problem for those teams lately, and it certainly wasn’t a problem last night.
Cotuit rolled to an 11-2 victory over Bourne — its second in a row since its tough stretch — while Falmouth posted the league’s biggest offensive day of the season with a 15-6 victory over Wareham.
The win by the Kettleers keeps them within striking distance in the West. They’re now two points back of Bourne, who’s in a tie for third place with Wareham.
Cotuit had beaten Falmouth 6-3 on Monday on the strength of 11 hits. The bats were even hotter last night, with the Kettleers delivering a season-high 14 hits and a new season-high in runs.
You could probably guess that Victor Roache (Georgia Southern) was involved, and in fact, he did the most damage. Roache was only three for his last 15 coming into the game, but he went 3-for-3 with a home run, three runs scored and three RBI. The home run ties him for the league lead with four and the RBI total brings him to a league-high 15.
Roache wasn’t the only one chipping in. Ryon Healy (Oregon) also hit a home run and went 2-for-3 with three RBI. Stefan Sabol (Oregon), Kyle Wren (Georgia Tech) and Alex Yarbrough (Ole Miss) also had two hits. Mike Yastrzemski (Vanderbilt), just in from the College World Series, made his 2011 debut and went 1-for-2.
Kevin Ziomek (Vanderbilt) got the win for the Kettleers.
As for Falmouth, the offensive fireworks were even brighter. The Commodores finished with 15 runs on 21 hits. Their team batting average coming into the game was .217. It’s now .232.
Jack Marder (Oregon) and Jeremy Baltz (St. John’s) each had four hits apiece, while Jake Rodriguez (Oregon State) and Eric Garcia (Missouri) each drove in four runs. Max White (Oklahoma) and Kyle VonTungeln (TCU) drove in two runs each.
The impressive thing is that the Commodores did it against pitchers who have been pretty solid. Brent Suter (Harvard) was the starter and he came in with an ERA of 2.80. Wareham’s relievers have also been good, but no one was immune to Falmouth’s burst.
The Commodores are now alone in second place in the West, pretty amazing considering their 0-7 start. Since then, Falmouth is 11-4.
Elsewhere
What to Watch
Game: Falmouth will try to stay hot against a Bourne team that gave up plenty to Cotuit last night. The game is at Falmouth at 7 p.m.
Player: We’ll see if the Commodores even need a big offensive night. League strikeout leader Joe Bircher (Bradley) is scheduled to start for Falmouth.
Exactly 10 days until we are IN the Cape watching these games LIVE.