09/26/2007 3:44 PM Article By:
Cotuit Kettleers
2007 Season Review
(14-27-3 – 4th in West)
COTUIT, Mass. -- The summer ended a bit too soon for the Cotuit Kettleers as the team wrapped up its 2007 Cape Cod Baseball League season with a record of 14-27-3, numbers that do not reflect the hard work and dedication of its coaching staff and players or the numerous hardships the team faced over the summer. Plagued by injuries and tough luck, manager Mike Roberts and his squad made the best of a tough season.
Coming off a solid 2006 season the Kettleers figured to be one of the most competitive teams on the Cape as four players were returning from the 2006 club that won the West Division Championship and finished with the second-best record in the league. Included were standout shortstop Reese Havens (South Carolina), second baseman Tony Delmonico (Florida State) and pitchers Christian Staehely (Princeton) and Michael Cisco (South Carolina).
While the team paced itself at the beginning of the summer and held second place in the West Division throughout June, a combination of injuries and pitching woes dropped the Kettleers to third place by the end of July. From July 12 until July 25, Cotuit suffered a demoralizing 13-game losing streak plagued with blown leads, an inconsistent offense, struggling starting rotations and tired and injured arms.
Cotuit did not go quietly, though, and ended the season on a high note by defeating powerful Yarmouth-Dennis, 11-9, a final victory which enabled the Kettleers to walk away from Lowell Park with their heads held high and priceless experience under their belts.
Reese Havens (South Carolina), Robert Stock (Southern California), Josh Lindblom (Purdue) and Caleb Joseph (Lipscomb) represented Cotuit on the West Division All Star Team. Havens and Stock were also named to the 2007 All-League squad. Havens and Lindblom were voted Kettleer MVPs by their teammates and coaching staff. Havens finished with a team-high .314 batting average and five home runs. Lindblom was the first pitcher in the league to reach four wins
Erica Bailey, CCBL Intern ([email protected])
