Six Run Comeback Gives Hyannis 7-6 Win over Cotuit
By: Matt Coates
If you left McKeon Park early on Thursday, June 22, you missed the game of the year so far this season.
In 10 innings, the Hyannis Harbor Hawks were able to complete a six-run comeback, besting the Cotuit Kettleers 7-6.
Over the first eight innings, the Harbor Hawks (6-5) were essentially a no-show. With only one hit in those innings, it was a frustrating game early on. In both the third and the fourth inning Hyannis stranded a runner on third base.
However, it was not all bad early on for the Harbor Hawks. The pitching staff only allowed two earned runs the entire game. Starting pitcher Zachary Voelker was great in his first appearance for the Hyannis this season.
Last year Voelker pitched for the Harbor Hawks, doing so well that he earned himself a nod to the All-Star game. In this game, he performed like the All-Star from last year. He went three and one-third innings, only allowing one run on two hits while striking out five.
“Our starter gave us exactly what we needed, and our bullpen was really good,” assistant coach Eric Luksis said.
Hyannis went through five relief pitchers, giving up only one more earned run for the remainder of the game. In the top of the ninth, Cotuit (8-3) was able to tack on four unearned runs.
Heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Harbor Hawks found magic. After scoring no runs over eight innings, Hyannis brought six across in the ninth.
“It was a six-to-nothing game, and the pressure was kind of off,” Luksis said. “The expectation was that we weren’t going to win this game and the guys just settled in the box.”
Settle in they did. The rally started with Ben Williamson, who got hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Three straight singles from Billy Amick, Cam Smith, and Gavin Kash cut the Kettleers lead down to 6-2.
The Harbor Hawks earned one more run on a Zach Ehrhard sacrifice fly to make the score 6-3 Cotuit. Later in the inning, Will Taylor stepped up to the plate. With the bases loaded and two out, Hyannis needed a big play. Luckily, Taylor delivered.
As Taylor describes, “I was able to hit one over the first baseman’s head into right field and score three, so it was a fun time.”
A fun time it was, fans, interns, and even Harbor Hawks General Manager Nick Johnson were jumping and screaming in celebration of the ridiculous comeback.
Taylor’s initial hit brought home two runs. However, an errant throw that bounced away from the Kettleers’ catcher allowed Mike Sirota to run to home plate and tie the game.
With that Sirota run, Hyannis had done the improbable, plating six runs in one-half inning to force extra innings.
In the top of the 10th, Coach Luksis entrusted Michael Rodriguez on the mound. With a runner starting on second for the extra inning, it was no easy task. However, he got it done. Rodriguez walked one but got the other three batters he faced out, keeping the score at six runs apiece.
In the bottom of the 10th, the Harbor Hawks finished their comeback. Amick led off the inning with a gorgeous sacrifice bunt, moving Ethan Bates over to third base. After a Smith pop-out in foul territory, Kash stepped to the plate.
Entering this game, Kash was 0-12 at the beginning of his season on the Cape.
“[Kash] got off to a slow start and he’ll be the first one to tell you,” Luksis said. “We gave him the day off yesterday. We pulled him aside and just had a quick conversation with him that we do believe in him, and we think that he’s going to be a really good here this summer.”
That conversation paid off tonight, as Kash cashed in his first two hits of the season, one of which being a walk-off in the bottom of the 10th.
A single ripped straight up the middle brought in Bates, making Kash the big hero in this thrilling Hyannis victory.
The Harbor Hawks will look to keep the good times rolling as they travel to Bourne to take on the Braves at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 23.
Matt Coates can be reached coatesm@misericordia.edu or followed on Twitter @MattCoates14
