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Veterans Field, Chatham, MA

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Harwich Handles Chatham, Sweep Doubleheader

by Chris Jones
Thursday, August 01, 2013

Harwich Handles Chatham, Sweep Doubleheader
After one of the best wins of the season, where the Chatham Anglers (26-14-1) scored four in the ninth to tie the game, then won it in the 10th to clinch the division, the Anglers fell flat, losing both games of a doubleheader against Harwich.

"All of the excitement from last night sort of took the air out of us today," Manager John Schiffner. "You could tell that we were not completely focused out there, we made some mistakes, and they cost us."

In the first game of the twin-bill, a four-run first inning from the Mariners doomed the Chatham Anglers, as the Harwich Mariners held on to win 5-3 in the first game of the double header.

Starter Matt Gage (Siena) was dealt the loss after allowing the four runs in one inning pitched.

"Gage had a rough inning, but I think the weird starting time that messed with his routine had something to do with that," Schiffner said.

The Anglers came back with two runs in the second inning behind RBI hits from Brett Bell (Texas Tech) and Michael Russell (North Carolina), but could not push across anymore despite having the bases loaded. The Mariners would answer with a run in the very next frame.

Attempting to wake the team up all by himself, Jimmy Pickens (Michigan State) scored Chatham's third run after laying down an infield bunt single, then stole second and third base, then scored on a wild pitch.

The Anglers would get no closer, and would fall to the Mariners 5-3 in the first game of the doubleheader.

50 minutes later, Chatham and Harwich were back at it for game two. Once again, the Mariners struck first, and built a three run lead against Andrew McGee (Monmouth) and the Anglers.

The Chatham offense was held silent by Mariners left-hander Dillon Peters (Texas).

The Anglers would get a run in the sixth inning of a seven-inning ball game on an RBI fielder's choice from Dante Flores (USC), but that would be all that they could muster, and the Mariners walked away from Veterans Field with a doubleheader sweep.

"We were not all there today," Schiffner said. "Everybody's schedule was off today. It was a weird day."

One of the bright spots of the day was Liam Rafferty (Florida Gulf Coast), who after arriving to the team earlier that day, pitched a perfect seventh inning in game two, picking up his first strikeout as an Angler along the way.

"It felt great being out there," Rafferty said. "I pitched for Cotuit earlier in the season, got cut and thought I would shut it down for the summer, then I get a call and I am back pitching on the Cape."

At a late point in the season, another arm out of the bullpen will prove to be very valuable as the playoffs come around.

"He will be very valuable. He will eat up innings whenever we need him to, and he is just another good arm that we can count on in the bullpen," Schiffner said.

The Anglers have lost four of their last six games, and are a miracle ninth-inning comeback on Wednesday away from being on a four-game losing streak. After long spring collegiate seasons, and a long summer season on the Cape, the Anglers are still in it for the long haul.

"We want to go into the playoffs on a winning streak," Sedell said. "We just need to get back to what we have been doing. This team is in it until the end."

The Anglers have three games remaining in the regular season. They will travel to Lowell Park to take on Cotuit tomorrow at 4:30 p.m, then will play a home-and-home series with the Orleans Firebirds.



Chris Jones is the Beat Writer and Social Media Manager for the Chatham Anglers. Follow him on twitter at @Chrisjones_UO, and follow the Chatham Anglers at @ChathamAnglers.