FALMOUTH – Cotuits (8-8) 3-2 win over Falmouth (5-8-2) on Sunday started and ended with the Kettleers avoiding disaster.
A 25-pitch final point of the ninth saw the Commodore’s two runners and eventually put both in the points position. However, thanks to a crazy catch behind home plate, pitcher Shaddon Peavyhouse was able to come back and beat TCU’s Brayden Taylor in three places to make the final.
Eight innings back, Stanford pitcher Quinn Matthews was in a similar situation.
After a five-pitch walk, hitting a bat and then giving up another seven-pitch walk, Matthews had loaded the bases on three batter on his debut in the Cape League. The Cardinal got through, however, hitting Falmouth’s # 4, 5, and 6 bats to work out of the jam.
Matthews finished his debut with 3.1 innings. Faced in 14 strokes, he threw seven strikeouts and gave up three walks. He did not allow a run or a hit in the effort.
The Stanford sophomore arrived at the Cape on Wednesday, and as of Sunday, Cotuit manager Mike Roberts said Matthews will start every six days for the rest of the summer.
Matthews also comes from a second campaign in which he had a “strange break-in,” he said after Sunday’s victory, which was mostly about matters of command.
“Of course I could work it through tonight, which I couldn’t this year,” said Matthews.
In 2021, Matthews started 14 games for the Cardinal and played a total of 18 games. He finished the year with a 8/6 ERA in 66.2 innings, throwing five wild pitches and hitting eight batters. In his last 10 appearances, he’s taken more or as many walks as he crossed out in half.
In fact, his start on Sunday reminded him of his second year 2021 debut, which he made five months earlier.
Against Santa Barbara, Matthews went the gaucho lead-off man and then met their No. 2 hitter to set two runners. He even thought of the moment he was on the hill on Sunday.
“I was like, ‘Oh, OK, here we go again with Quinn.'”
However, much like he recovered on Sunday night, Matthews continued to settle the next three UCSB batter with a strikeout, fly ball and grounder to get out of the first inning. He would end that game with eight strikeouts in five innings and one win.
Matthews said to get out of his Sunday jam he largely relied on his breaking pitches, which include a move, a slider and a curveball. He recorded a strikeout with the curveball which he said had never thrown a game until Sunday.
Although Matthews didn’t give up hits, the knockout was mostly due to the number of pitches, which he estimated at 60 to 70 when he was relieved.
Roberts said he wanted to “improve it a little,” but he would let Matthews or one of his pitchers go up to 90 pitches later this summer, depending on the outing.
Matthews said he hopes to mature and grow as a baseball player for the remainder of his summer at Cotuit this summer, and of course, keep improving his commands.
“No hits is cool, but doing without four freebaggers is just not ideal,” said Matthews, “and doing a couple of full counts is just too many pitches.”
REMARKABLE
Baldwin’s Catch Saves Game: Cotuit catcher Matthew Dolan watched a high fly ball in foul territory on Sunday ninth with two outs at the end of Sunday 9, but after getting under it the ball popped out of his glove.
However, UNC-Wilmington midfielder Brooks Baldwin was close enough to catch the ball for the second time when the ball ricocheted off Dolan’s glove.
Baldwin finished the game 1 for 5 and scored a run. So far this summer he beats .236, has three additional base hits, a home run and five RBIs.
Garriola continues to supply the plate: Old Dominion’s Andy Garriola rode one of the Kettleers’ three runs on Sunday to continue their impressive season on the record.
By 11 games, Garriola beats .281 with three home runs and 11 RBIs.
Kiln transfers to Arkansas: Falmouth outfielder Jace Bohrofen, who scored a home run in the Sunday loss, announced on Saturday that he will move from Oklahoma to the University of Arkansas in 2022.
The former No. 38 player in his recruiting class hit .252 with two home runs and 18 RBIs in one season for the Sooners. That summer he beats .340 for the Commodores with five home runs and 16 RBIs.
NEXT
For cotuit: Wareham Gatemen, 7:00 p.m., July 12, at Spillane Field in Wareham.
For Falmouth: Orleans Firebirds, 6 p.m., July 12, at Guv Fuller Field in Falmouth.
Adam Cole can be reached at acole@gannett.com or on Twitter @colereporter.
