FALMOUTH, Mass. – The Falmouth Commodores defeated the Cotuit Kettleers 5–0 on Sunday night, delivering a balanced offensive effort and dominant pitching.
The victory provides the club with its second consecutive win, coming against a Cotuit team that holds the best record in the Cape Cod Baseball League, at 14–3–3. The Kettleers also lead the league with 85 runs scored, despite being shut out by the ’Dores on Sunday.
The Commodores’ lineup had another productive evening in the batter’s box, scoring five runs on eight hits. Third baseman Colby Halter and first baseman Jacob Walsh helped lead the way, as they both went 2-for-4 with solo home runs. Right fielder Drew Brutcher also had a solid game, going 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Falmouth’s pitching staff continued its recent success on the mound, striking out 13 batters and holding Cotuit scoreless. Josh Hartle gave the ’Dores a dominant start, striking out four batters in four scoreless innings of work. Philip Abner was then solid in relief, striking out two batters and allowing just one hit in two shutout frames. Cam Minacci also fanned four batters in two innings on the hill. Mikey Tepper closed out the game by working a scoreless ninth.
The hurlers allowed just one walk in the game, displaying control on the mound. Manager Jeff Trundy said he is pleased with how the team has pitched in the past week, particularly by limiting the number of walks it yields.
“They’ve been exceptional,” Trundy said. “You look at our last four games really, we had one bad inning last night and other than that, we’re just putting up a bunch of zeros for the most part. I think the big thing is they’re staying away from free passes. If you can stay away from that … you’re in pretty good shape.”
The Commodores got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning, taking an early 1–0 lead over the Kettleers. Designated hitter Jace Bohrofen hit an RBI single that just got past Cotuit shortstop Ryan Ritter, plating Alex Mooney.
Falmouth scored another run in the bottom of the third, extending its lead to 2–0 against Cotuit. Halter lined a solo blast over the wall in right field, marking the University of Florida product’s second homer of the summer.
Halter said he has been impressed with the team’s at-bats over the last two games and believes the lineup is making adjustments to be successful moving forward.
“It takes some guys just a little bit longer to get used to the wood bats, that’s the thing that’s different than college,” Halter said. “Baseball is a tough game, so when you get hot at the plate, it’s good to keep it going.”
The ’Dores crossed the dish three more times in the bottom of the sixth inning, making it a 5–0 ballgame. Walsh drove a solo home run over the right field fence, hitting his second long ball in as many games. Brutcher then powered an RBI double into the left-center field gap, plating Peyton Stovall. Brutcher later came home to score on a wild pitch.
This would hold as the final score, as Minacci and Tepper would keep the Kettleers scoreless for the final three innings of the game. Tepper struck out the side in the ninth inning, securing the victory for the ’Dores.
The victory improves Falmouth’s record to 7–11–2 on the season. The Commodores will take on the Kettleers again at 5 p.m. July 4, as the club will travel to Lowell Park.
Note: Featured image by Meghan Murphy.
Click here for Sunday night’s box score.
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Tommy Mumau can be reached at tmumau@ithaca.edu. Follow him on Twitter @tommymumau13.
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