The Cotuit Kettleers entered the night with a comfortable 4‑0 advantage over the Harwich Mariners, only to watch that lead evaporate in the final innings.
Coach Rob Cooper, who has guided the club for several seasons, voiced his frustration with the team’s defensive lapses and a series of pitching miscues that kept the opposition alive.
A Late Collapse
Harwich answered in the eighth with an RBI single from Sean O’Leary that trimmed the deficit and shifted momentum.
The Mariners completed the comeback in the ninth when a wild pitch turned into a balk charged to Cotuit reliever Ryan Buckler, allowing the winning run to cross the plate.
Cotuit’s four runs were supplied by Isaac Sturgess, Tito Keifer and Sam Christiansen, each of whom contributed key hits during the early surge.
Sturgess, meanwhile, extended his personal hitting streak to six games, underscoring his consistent offensive contribution.
Looking ahead, the Kettleers are set to face Orleans in their next outing, a matchup that will test whether they can rebound from the late‑game setback.