Landon Cray (Seattle) said it best after Chatham fell 4-0 to Orleans on Sunday night. The game was scoreless until the Firebirds scored four runs in the top of the fifth, and by the bottom of the fifth a layer of fog rendered the last four innings unplayable. 

The flag pole in center field was barely visible. The Orleans outfielders looked like three lights at the end of three different tunnels. And, before the umpires called the head coaches behind home plate to start a string of delays that would eventually lead to a final score, Brewster had beaten Harwich to move into the East Division’s fourth and final playoff spot. For Chatham, it was just another bucket of rain drops in what has become the perfect storm. 

“There’s not much (John) Schiffner can say to us anymore,” Cray said after the five-inning loss. “Right now we don’t control our own destiny anymore, so we have to win to have any shot at going to the playoffs. If guys want to be here they’ll make it happen.”

With one more shot to salvage a late-season slumber, the Anglers (17-25-1) head to Eldredge Park to face Orleans (23-18-2) at 7 p.m. There will be playoff implications on the line across the Cape, including the Firebirds’ fight to secure second place and home-field advantage for the first round of the playoffs against Y-D. 

But, in the grand scheme of things, nothing holds more weight than the two games that decide if Chatham and Brewster will pack or play in the next few days. The Anglers are one point back of the Whitecaps heading into Monday, and Brewster and Harwich will also start at 7 p.m.

At the end of the night, the East Division playoff field will be set and 44 games will have boiled down to one.

Said Gunsolus: “We just need to forget about being tired and get it done. This is what you come here for.”

Broadcast information

Broadcast coverage of the Anglers and Firebirds begins with an extended Anglers Extra Pregame Show at 6:30 p.m. Watch and listen on TRZ Teamline or listen by phone 1-800-846-4700, code 3481. Visit Broadcast Central for more information.

The Anglers media team encourages you to email us at chathambroadcast@gmail.com during the game as a part of Email Frenzy Night. In the email, include your name, relationship to the team and where you are listening from.