playoff preview: cotuit vs. falmouth

1 Cotuit Kettleers (24-18-2) vs. 2 Falmouth Commodores (23-20-1)
Game 1: Saturday at Cotuit, 3 p.m.
Game 2: Sunday at Falmouth, 7 p.m.
Game 3 (if necessary): Monday at Cotuit

At times this season, the Cotuit Kettleers and Falmouth Commodores didn't get it done.

But they got it done when it counted.

The Kettleers won their last five regular-season games, which allowed them to break out of the pack and win the Western Division. Falmouth had a hot streak late in the year, hit a few bumps in the road, but bounced back in time to win its final two games when both were do-or-die.

And so they meet today, two teams who seem to deliver when there's a lot on the line.

After the first two weeks of the season, I wouldn't have been surprised to see Cotuit winning the Western Division. They were riding a powerful offense to the best start in the league. But personnel losses left them looking like a shadow of their former selves.

At least until the last week of the season. Cotuit's pitching had done enough to keep the team in the mix. The offense came back to life just in time. The Kettleers scored 26 runs in their five-game winning streak, and with players fighting through struggles, the lineup suddenly looks formidable again. It's not as powerful as it once was, but top to bottom, there aren't many weak spots.

Falmouth has also had to overcome a big personnel loss, with Jimmy Cesario signing a pro contract after the all-star game. But this team has been hanging in there all along, seemingly without the means to do that, so it's no surprise that they've hung in there again.

Whatever happens, it's going to be an interesting series.

SEASON SERIES

Six Meetings
Cotuit: 4 wins (9-2, 3-1, 4-2, 3-1)
Falmouth: 2 wins (3-2, 10-6)
Total Runs: Cotuit 27, Falmouth 19

Cotuit won two at home and two on the road. Falmouth won one at home and one on the road.

Last Meeting
Cotuit won 3-1 at home on August 3. Nick Hernandez allowed one run in 7.2 innings. Hernandez is the probable starter for game one.

TEAM CAPSULE - COTUIT

Offensive Leaders
Average: Kevin Patterson - .296
Home Runs: Kevin Patterson and Brett Jackson - 4
RBI: Kevin Patterson - 27

Patterson is the key piece for the Kettleers. Interestingly enough, he's been batting way down in the order lately, and apparently, that has helped spark the team's surge. Having Patterson bat that low also highlights the team's strength. One-through-nine, you're not going to find an easy out. Other standouts for Cotuit include Jeff Kobernus, Jason Kipnis and Dallas Poulk. Robert Stock has been on fire lately.

Pitching Leaders
ERA: Seth Blair - 1.55
Wins: Nick Hernandez - 6
Strikeouts: Nick Hernandez - 48

Hernandez and Blair make up a pretty formidable 1-2 punch. After them, you've got Paul Applebee and Mario Hollands, both of whom have been solid, especially down the stretch. Daniel Wolford, Sam Brown and Drew Storen have been good out of the bullpen.

TEAM CAPSULE - FALMOUTH

Offensive Leaders
Average: A.J. Pollock - .377
Home Runs: Ryan Jones - 8
RBI: A.J. Pollock - 25

For the second straight year, Falmouth rides into the playoffs with an MVP in their lineup. Pollock has been just as impressive as Conor Gillaspie was last year, and he has the ability to carry this team. Jones has provided some pop for the Commodores, while Darin Ruf has been hitting well lately. Much like Cotuit, Falmouth doesn't have many weak spots. Their team batting average is .261, three points higher than Cotuit's.

Pitching Leaders
ERA: Ben Tootle - 1.97
Wins: Ben Tootle, Chad Bettis and Jorge Reyes - 3
Strikeouts: Rex Brothers - 48

The fact that the team leaders in wins only have three says a lot about Falmouth's pitching staff. They've found a way, but a lot of times, it's by trotting a starter out for five innings then cobbling things together with the bullpen. But with Tootle at the back end, they can feel good about doing that. And several of the starters finished strong. Bettis, Chris Gloor and Nate Karns have been solid down the stretch.

WHAT I THINK

I didn't get to see any of Cotuit's final games, but the picture in the Cape Cod Times of Brett Jackson celebrating like a maniac in the win over Hyannis said a lot.

The Kettleers want this.

Falmouth does, too, of course, but I get the feeling that the Kettleers are really feeling that momentum right now. They've had a lot of adversity this year, and everybody knows that adversity can help forge a stronger team in the long run. I think Cotuit is seeing the benefits of that right now.

I also think the Kettleers have the advantage in the pitching department, so I'm picking them to win the series. In fact, I'm going to pick them to sweep.