Bravos storm back from 1-0 series deficit, defeat Ketts to advance to championship series for first time since 2017

Bravos storm back from 1-0 series deficit, defeat Ketts to advance to championship series for first time since 2017

By: Nick Galle 

After attending his sister’s wedding in a small town in Indiana this weekend, Matt Jachec hopped on a flight Sunday morning to make his way back to the Cape. Little did he know, but by 9 p.m. that night, he’d be a key reason as to why the Kettleers were leaving it.

For the second time in the span of a week, the Indiana State right-hander baffled the Ketts. He went seven innings, allowed just five hits, one unearned run, walked one and struck out nine to seal the series and lift the Braves over Cotuit 5-1.

“I had a game plan against them that worked and kind of repeating that cycle and doing the same things this game worked out well,” Jachec said. “Any way I could help this team, I was glad to do it today. Providing a good outing for them is important to me and got the job done.”

The Kettleers got on the board first thanks to an RBI double by Carter Trice in the top of the third, but the Bravos were patient in the bottom half of the inning, drawing four walks and slashing three hits to post five runs. All four batters that reached base by way of the walk came around to score, with Dalton Rushing, Peter Burns and Hunter Jump all tallying RBI base hits.

“It’s just kind of how it’s been all year with these guys,” Burns said. “Everyone in this lineup can hit and going into games everyone’s going to have to get their job done. So kind of just pass the torch, and it’s the next guy up mentality, and tonight I was able to get some jobs done.”

Trice had three of Cotuit’s five hits and for the home team, Rushing went 2-for-4 with a double, one RBI and a run scored, Thomas went 1-for-3 with one RBI and was hit by a pitch and Burns went 1-for-2 with one RBI, a run scored and two walks.

“Keep it simple. One good at-bat turns into a couple,” Rushing said. “We drew a few walks right there, little bloop single I guess you could say into right field, hit’s a hit, scored the run and that just started the rally for the Bourne Braves.”

Similar to Saturday night, Ben Ethridge and Eric Adler came out of the bullpen, but this time instead of forcing a Game 3, they would send the Bravos to the final series of the season.

“It wasn’t as though we were down three runs in each ballgame, I think the key was the last two starting pitchers and we got good relief,” field manager Harvey Shapiro said. “We didn’t pitch well the first game, we made errors and I mean we scored six runs, so six runs in a playoff game, you should have a chance to win.”

For the first time since 2017, the Braves now find themselves in the championship series and will square off against Brewster. Bourne won two of three games against the Whitecaps in the regular season, and Game 1 will be tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Doran Park.

Cover photo via: Joe Sullivan