On Sunday evening, the Chatham Anglers (14-11) will make the trek to Guv Fuller Field to face the Falmouth Commodores (14-11). The Anglers continued their winning ways on Saturday night, defeating the Hyannis Harbor Hawks 9-4 at Veterans Field. Since the team's back-to-back off days on July 10 and 11, Chatham is 3-0 and has 28 points in the tightly-packed Eastern Division.
"I think our mindset as a team is great right now," said Virginia Tech third baseman
Chad Pinder. "When we come to the ballpark, you don't see a single person without a smile on their face. I think right now we're just in that zone where we're coming to the field and we're having a great time together. Whenever a team does that, that team is bound for great things."
On Saturday night, the Anglers rallied from a 3-0 hole and outscored Hyannis 9-1 in the final six and a half innings of play. Chatham saw an inspired performance on the mound from Maine's
Tommy Lawrence (2-0, 1.80 ERA), who fought through early trouble to earn his second win of the season, allowing three earned runs in six and two thirds innings and recording six strikeouts.
"Tommy had a great outing," said Pinder. "Every time he goes out there, he competes very well. He's the type of guy that I like to go out and play behind. He works with a great tempo and he is always battling. That's what I like to see in a pitcher."
While Pinder was quite complimentary of Lawrence, the sophomore made plenty of noise on his own on Saturday, going 3 for 4 with two home runs and 4 RBI. With his four runs batted in, Pinder is tied for the Cape League lead in RBI with Bourne's
Colin Moran (North Carolina) with 25. In addition, the Virginia Tech Hokie's two long balls have him tied with California's Andrew Knapp for the team lead with four.
Other Anglers who flourished on Saturday night were second baseman
Mike Fransoso (Maine) and catcher
Chad Morgan (Virginia Tech). Both players went 2 for 4 with an RBI single and played flawless defense. Morgan's offense has really come on of late, and his batting average is now up to .212. In Morgan's last two starts, the Springfield, VA native has tacked on two RBI.
"Chad's been having great at-bats lately," said manager
John Schiffner. "He's been playing so well for us. He didn't have the greatest of years at school but he's made some adjustments this summer. He's working really well with our hitting coach Pat McGee. The rest is taking care of itself."
On Sunday, Chatham will send Franklin Pierce's
Ryan Thompson (1-0, 1.62 ERA). Thompson earned his first victory of the season in his last start against Harwich on July 6, giving up two earned runs in five and two thirds innings and fanning 11 batters. In his three starts this season, Thompson has allowed only three earned runs and has recorded 21 strikeouts.
Oregon State's
Ben Wetzler (1-1, 3.48 ERA) will be on the hill for the Commodores. The sophomore suffered his first loss of the season in his last outing against Brewster on July 7, allowing three earned runs in four and a third innings pitched. Wetzler has struck out 11 batters and walked six in his two starts this season and is a recent addition to the rotation for a team that has a 3.92 staff ERA.
For live coverage, tune into the Anglers Extra Pregame Show at 5:10 p.m. with broadcasters Chris Fitzgerald and Brandon Liebhaber at
TRZ Teamline.