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Cotuit Kettleers Can Take Pride In 2008 Accomplishments

08/14/2008 1:56 PM

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14 August 2008

THIS WEEK IN THE CAPE LEAGUE
Championship Week

Despite Heartbreaking Loss,
Cotuit Kettleers Can Take Pride
In Their 2008 Accomplishments

HARWICH, Mass. – All good things must come to an end. 

     Manager Mike Roberts and his Cotuit Kettleers saw just that in game two of the Cape Cod Baseball League championship series, a game which ended in a 2-1 loss to the Harwich Mariners in dramatic fashion. 

     “They’re the 2008 champions,” said Roberts. “I’m happy for them, I’m happy for Steve (Englert) and their organization and that’s the most important thing to me, that we are happy for them.”

     Cotuit held a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning, but after allowing the first three batters to reach base, Mark Fleury (North Carolina) laced a two-run single to deep right-center field to give Harwich its first league crown since 1987.

     Despite falling short in the finals, the Cotuit organization can take pride in its accomplishments. The Kettleers won the West Division title in one the most exciting races in recent history, Roberts won his first playoff game and Cotuit reached the championship series for the first time since 1999. 

     “With this team, it had nothing to do with talent,” said an emotional Roberts “It had to do with the love and respect for one another and the love and respect for the game and that’s what carried them to this point. It didn’t have anything to do with talent.”

     Nick Hernandez (Tennessee), who pitched eight scoreless innings before facing one hitter in the ninth, said it was the most fluid team he’s ever been a part of. “When you bring 25 guys from around the country and put them on one team, you usually aren’t going to have team camaraderie.

     “We don’t have the best talent,” Hernandez continued, “but whenever you have a group of guys who want to play together and do everything together, it carries over to the field,” said Hernandez. 

     Even if things did not end the way they had hoped, the Kettleers put together a fine season that won’t soon be forgotten by the players, coaches and their grateful fans. 
 

Phil Garceau, CCBL Intern ([email protected])
 

John Garner, Jr.
Director of Public Relations & Broadcasting
(508) 790-0394
[email protected] 

Joe Sherman
Web Editor
(508) 775-4364)
[email protected]

Interns 2008: Chris Blake, James Chandley, Ashley Crosby, Phil Garceau, Stefanie Marini, Laura Rasmussen