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CBN Player of the Week - Kole Cottam

Kole Cottam, whose father Jeff and uncle Donnie roamed Burlington’s Nelson Park, was CBN Player of the week with the class-A Greenville Drive.

July 19, 2021

By George Farelli

Canadian Baseball Network

One humid day in Burlington a few years ago someone spotted a blue and white UK umbrella during a Baseball Ontario tournament.

Question: “So, whose son goes to the university of Kentucky?”

Answer: “It’s my grandson.”

That’s how grandma Gloria Cottam and her grandson Keaton Cottam were discovered. Keaton, a catcher, was playing for the Burlington Bulls a few years ago, for his father, coach Donnie. They eventually moved on to join the Milton Mets.

Meanwhile, brother Jeff went to Memphis, originally on a handball scholarship, and then the Burlington Nelson grad, turned to baseball.

And his son, Kole, Gloria’s grandson, who played at Kentucky had the best week of the 108 Canadians playing south of the border, batting .500. Cottam went 6-for-12 with a pair of RBIs at class-A Greenville.

How the week went for Cottam as he:

_ Didn’t play in a 9-1 loss to the Aberdeen Ironbirds before 3,600 at Fluor Field at the West End. Adam Hall (London, Ont.) walked in the lead-off spot for Aberdeen.

_ Didn’t play in a 1-0 win against Aberdeen before 4,028 fans in Greeneville. Adam Hall (London, Ont.) walked in the lead-off spot for Aberdeen.

_ Catching and hitting sixth, he had two hits in a 6-5 loss to Aberdeen in front of 4,694 fans. He hit a two-run double to left to give the Drive a 4-1 lead and doubled to centre with one out in the ninth to put the tying run in scoring position. Batting lead off Hall singled for Aberdeen.

_ DHing and battting sixth, he went 3-for-4 in an 11-3 loss to Abderdeen in front of 4,765 fans. Kottam singled to centre in the second, did the same in the fourth and reached on an infield single in the sixth. Hall had a run-scoring single for the Ironbirds.

_ Didn’t play in an 8-2 win before 4,205 fans. Hall went 3-for-4.

_ Catching and hitting sixth, he singled in an 11-4 loss to the Asheville Tourists before 2,009 fans at McCormick Field. He doubled to left in the fifth, his 10th double of the campaign.

Best Offensive Performance

Player / Class / Team AB R H HR RBI AVG

Kole Cottam - High A East Greenville 12 1 6 - 2 .500

Andy Yerzy - High A West Hillsboro 15 2 5 1 2 .333

Adam Hall – High A Aberdeen 24 2 7 1 5 .292

David Glaude - IND Quebec 25 5 10 - 9 .400

L.P. Pelletier - IND Quebec 24 10 9 1 2 .375

Jamie Romak - FGN SS Landers KBO 16 3 6 1 1 .375

Myles Miller - IND Boise 30 11 11 2 6 .367

Jonathan Lacroix - IND Quebec 18 3 6 1 3 .333

Mike Crouse - IND Chicago 29 6 9 1 8 .310

(Minimum 10 ABs)

Best pitching

Logan Hofmann RHP - A Bradenton Marauders

APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA

1 6.0 4 - - - 5 - - 0.67 0.00

As a rookie, Logan Hofmann has been very consistent in pitching for the Bradenton Marauders, and this week the Muenster, Sask. native had another very good outing. On July 9, in a 4-3 win over Clearwater Threshers, he pitched six scoreless innings, surrendering only four base hits while striking out five Clearwater batters, but was not involved in the decision. His overall record with the Marauders in 12 Low A - Southeast appearances, currently stands at 3-1 with a 2.13 ERA.

R.J. FREURE RHP - A ASHVILLE TOURISTS

APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA

1 5.0 3 1 1 2 6 1-0 - 1.00 1.80

As a third-year prospect in the Houston Astros system, R.J. Freure continues his development towards becoming a reliable starter. This week on July 11, in a 10-3 victory over the Greensboro Grasshoppers, he threw five innings, gave up three base hits and one earned run while striking out six Greensboro hitters, to secure his second win of the season. His record with the Tourists in twelve High A - East starts in now 2-5 with a 7.96 ERA.

Player of the Week

Week I _ Noah Skirrow (Stoney Creek, Ont.) Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies).

Week II _ Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Jays) and Trevor Brigden (Toronto, Ont.) class-A Charleston River Dogs (Rays).

Week III _ Andrew Yerzy (Toronto, Ont.) class-A Hillsboro Hops/class-A Visailia Oaks (Diamondbacks)

Week IV _ Indigo Diaz (North Vancouver, BC) class-A Rome Braves (Braves)

Week V _ Edouard Julien (Ancienne-Lorette, Que.) class-A Ft. Myers Mighty Mussels (Twins).

Week VI _ RHP Logan Hofmann (Muenster, Sask.) class-A Bradenton Marauders (Pirates)

Week VII _ INF-OF Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Jays).

Week VIII _ RHP Cade Smith (Abbotsford, BC) class-A Lynchburg Hillcats (Cleveland)

Week IX _ RHP Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.) double-A Wichita Wind Surge (Twins)

Week X _ C Kole Cottam (Knoxville, Tenn.) class-A East Greenville (Red Sox)