Written by Kathleen Szmit
 
 
Lights, lightning, and wet grass thwart reporting efforts


Tracking down the Cotuit Kettleers this week was a challenge. Both Father Time and Mother Nature offered up obstacles not insurmountable, but inconvenient nonetheless.

On Monday the Kettleers were scheduled to play the Bourne Braves. According to at least one schedule, game-time was set for 5 p.m.

Then there was the issue of light (or the lack thereof), and all games were rescheduled to 7 p.m. unbeknownst to some who showed up, well, early.

Then, for the first time in two days, Mother Nature added her two cents, whipping up a fairly formidable thunderstorm that soaked Doran Park and necessitated the calling of the game.

Strike one.

In spite of rising humidity and reports of cicadas in the outfield, Tuesday looked more promising baseball-wise. The Kettleers were set to play Hyannis in Game One of the Barnstable Patriot Cup.

Again came Mother Nature, laying waste to those best-laid plans. Although the downpours dried up before the game’s 5 p.m. start, the baseball field hadn’t.

Wet grass and lightning still flickering in the distance prompted field managers Mike Roberts of Cotuit and Rick Robinson of Hyannis, along with Kettleers’ General Manager Bruce Murphy, to postpone the game.

Strike two.

This reporter, still hoping to catch even a glimpse of a game, crossed fingers that Cotuit would play in Chatham on Wednesday where said reporter was covering another story.

No such luck. The Kettleers traveled to Bourne to make up Monday’s game, ironically with the threat of more storms on the horizon.

Strike three.

According to the Cape League website (www.capecodbaseball.org) and Cotuit’s homepage (www.kettleers.org) the Kettleers have won six games and lost two. Most recently Cotuit defeated the Bourne Braves 8-3, and the Orleans Cardinals 11-5, following a 5-3 loss to the Harwich Mariners and a 13-2 trouncing of the Chatham A’s.

In overall standings, the Kettleers are tied with Hyannis for first place in the Western Division with 12 points.
According to the online schedule the Kettleers were set to play Y-D at home at press time, followed by a road game to Falmouth tonight with a 7 p.m. start.

The Kettleers return home to Lowell Park tomorrow evening to play Brewster at 5 p.m. before hitting the road for Hyannis with a 7 p.m. start. That game will count as Game One in the Patriot Cup, providing Mother Nature and Father Time have settled down some by then.