FALMOUTH, MA — Kassius Thomas earned his second win on the mound, Cotuit gave up seven two-out RBI’s and the Falmouth Commodores ultimately captured a 7-3 victory in their final regular season contest of 2023. Manager Jeff Trundy’s team, which has now won five of its last six, finishes with 50 or more points in the CCBL standings for the first time since 2019 (56).
“I just thought it was good to play well, regardless of what the scoreboard said,” Trundy said. “I thought overall we did. Once again, our kids competed. The thing that was most pleasing is that we had seven two-out RBI. Those things are so important because they’re a backbreaker for the other team.”
Offensively, Falmouth (24-18-2 West) tallied eleven hits through the bats of seven different players. Walker Janek (twice), Tyler MacGregor (twice), Barry Walsh (twice), Cade Clemons (twice), Travis Bazzana, Kaleb Hall and Gavin Turley all recorded knocks. Bazzana, who finished the night with one hit in three at-bats, narrowly edged Bourne’s Derek Bender for the CCBL’s batting title with an average of .375.
“Obviously it’s an amazing accomplishment,” Trundy said. “Any time a kid can win the batting title in the Cape League, it says a lot about their skill and ability. Also, I think it says a great deal about their makeup. He has all the ingredients.”
Caden Shapiro would strike first for Falmouth, scoring Luke Heyman on a sacrifice fly-out to right field. Two innings later, the Commodores added a pair of scores on a single and balk, with both Cade Clemons and Tyler MacGregor moving home.
Cotuit (28-15-1 West) pulled within one in the top of the sixth, though. After Jack Scanlon notched a solo homer in the upper side of the fifth, Sean Keys imitated his teammate with a one-run dinger to open up the inning. Jeffery Heard also scored in the frame on a wild pitch from Commodores’ thrower Grant Goodlad.
But Falmouth, which never trailed in Wednesday night’s contest, went back on the offensive in the seventh with Walker Janek and Kaleb Hall runs. The former scored on a Barry Walsh single to the shortstop, while the latter trotted to the plate on a bases-loaded hit by pitch.
On the mound, Thomas earned the win with a hit and run surrendered alongside four strikeouts in two innings. Among those to also star was Parker Coil, who recorded three K’s in one frame.
“It was a really big deal,” Coil said. “We’ve had a lot of fun this season. To end on a good note like that is definitely something that you look forward to. It was a great feeling.”
For Cotuit, reliever James Quinlivan received the loss with four hits and three runs allowed through an inning. His fellow throwers — Brian Young, Camden Mounts, Will Jacobsen, Mason Murdock and Ben Kovel — also all pitched for two innings or less.
Falmouth takes off Thursday before game 1 of the opening round of the CCBL Playoffs at 6 Friday. The Commodores are set to face Hyannis (25-17-2 West), who finished the season 4-2 against Trundy’s team.
“I think they need the off day,” Trundy said of his team. “It’s just good to decompress a bit and get ready to have some fun in the playoffs.”
The Commodores Corner 