Jeff Manship (Notre Dame) did his job holding Falmouth to just two hits in his seven innings of work Wednesday night as the Cotuit Kettleers defeated the Commodores 4-0. Bryan Harris (Cal State Fullerton) got Cotuit on the scoreboard in the second inning with a shot over the left centerfield fence, his third of the summer.

Todd Davison (Delaware) made it 2-0 when he scored in the eighth off a double by Roberto Lopez (USC) and Sean Gaston (Notre Dame) added a run in the ninth off a double by Brad Boyer (Arizona). The Kettleers topped off the night when Boyer raced home on a wild pitch.

Derik Olvey (Notre Dame) pitched the eighth, and Chris Tonneguzzi (Perdue) came in for a quick 1-2-3 ninth.

On Tuesday looking to pick up ground on Western Division-leading Bourne Braves, Cotuit pounded out 15 hits. That along with a strong starting performance by Daniel Moskos (Clemson) and relief work by Charles Blackmon (Young Harris) and Chris Toneguzzi (Perdue) was more than enough to top the suddenly struggling Braves by a score of 7-0.

At the plate, the Kettleers were led by the bat of Gaston who continued his impressive Cape League summer going 4-for-4 with a run scored. Emeel Salem (Alabama) who is also doing a nice job for Cotuit this summer, was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Bryan Harris (Cal State Fullerton) and Shane Jordan (Stetson) were both 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Another Kettleer enjoying a solid summer is Jason Donald (Arizona). A 20-year-old sophomore from Clovis, California, he already has an impressive résumé that includes a trip to the College World Series, a tryout with Team USA and two seasons in the Cape League.

"Each has been another opportunity to play the game," he said of the several high profile, high-pressure situations in which he has performed. "I look at it as a chance to be around some great people. It’s a great experience and is very enjoyable. The College World Series last year was unlike anything I’ve experienced on a baseball field. We were treated basically like kings in Omaha. Hopefully we can get back their next year."

This spring Donald was invited to the campus of North Carolina State to try out for Team USA. It was the second year in a row in which he was invited.

"It was an honor to have had the opportunity to represent my country," he said. "Like the Cape, all the best players were there. Unfortunately for me, it didn’t work out. It was an enjoyable experience but now I’m here and I’m enjoying playing the game of baseball."

Last year he hit .206 with two home runs for the Kettleers. This summer he is hitting over .400 in the eight games he has played since arriving from the Team USA tryout.

Only two years removed from high school, he has played on some of the biggest stages that college baseball offers, yet maintains his perspective and is focused on his role with the Kettleers and getting to the top with Cotuit.

Down 3-1 to the Braves entering the bottom of the ninth inning Monday, the Kettleers stormed back with a three-run rally to defeat Bourne 4-3.

Salem singled in the bottom of the first inning, stole second and scored on a base hit by Harris to put the Kettleers on top. But in the top of the third, a three-run blast by Mike McBryde (Florida Atlantic) gave Bourne the lead, which they held until Salem struck in the ninth.

With runners on second and third with one out, Jordan made it 3-2 with an RBI single scoring Devin Thomas (Brown). Salem then stepped in against Bourne closer Romas Hicks (Georgia State) and smashed a double into left-centerfield scoring two more runs to give Cotuit the win.

With the exception of a curve ball he hung to McBryde, Josh Johnson (Mississippi State) pitched seven solid innings for the Kettleers allowing seven hits. Tim Ladd (Georgia Tech) pitched the final two frames in relief and picked up the win. 

Scoreless through four innings Sunday at Falmouth, the Commodores blew it open in the fifth with five runs driving Cotuit pitcher Barrett Browning (Florida State) from the mound as they marched to a 13-0 win. Olvey came in giving up three more runs followed by Parker who surrendered six more.

Tim Ladd (Georgia Tech) pitched a scoreless ninth.

Falmouth’s Stephen Faris (Clemson) allowed two hits over eight innings of work while striking out five Kettleers for the win.

A triple to centerfield off the bat of Donald was the best Cotuit could do Saturday against Chatham’s Robert Woodward (UNC) as the Kettleers were held to just five hits. Donald scored in the second inning on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Davison.

Donald and Gaston each finished the day 2-for-4.

Clay Dirks (LSU) got the start for Cotuit giving up a half-dozen hits to the A’s in five innings of work. Dirks left the game with the score tied 1-1 after surrendering a run in the fifth. Nathan Culp (Missouri) took over and lasted an inning and two-thirds before handing the ball to Daniel Moskos (Clemson) who got the last out in the seventh and first of the eighth, but allowed Chatham to score their second run. Moskos was tagged with the loss. Closer Chris Tonneguzzi finished the eighth but another Chatham run crossed the plate.

Taylor Parker (Missouri), the fifth Cotuit pitcher of the afternoon, pitched the ninth.

The Kettleers will send Dirks to the mound today at Yarmouth-Dennis for a 5 PM contest.