Jeremy “Sheets” Sheetinger wasn’t fazed by Chatham’s 11-0 run-rule drubbing at the hands of Hyannis Tuesday. The first-year manager’s mantra is that you either win or you learn. There’s no time to sulk in the face of defeat.

Following a day off, Sheetinger’s squad found itself with a chance to respond to its previous blunder in a crunch-time scenario. The Anglers went into the ninth inning locked at 1-1 versus Orleans. And this time, Chatham came through.

Aiva Arquette (Washington) knocked in a go-ahead RBI off Firebirds’ reliever Tucker Biven. The cushion was just enough for right-handed flamethrower Titan Hayes (Austin Peay) to register his first save with the Anglers, striking out two in the process to seal a 2-1 victory.

The A’s now return to Veterans Field for a matchup against Brewster. The Whitecaps are fresh off a 15-4 dismantling of Wareham, where they embarked out to a 14-0 lead and won via run-rule.

Here’s everything to know before Chatham (3-2, East) takes on Brewster (2-3, East) in its sixth game of the 2024 season:

Probable Starters

Sheetinger is set to roll with right-handed pitcher Evan Chrest (Florida State) on the mound Friday. The former Jacksonville product got off to a scintillating start to his Chatham career. Chrest earned an Opening Day starting nod and produced a 3.1-inning, six-strikeout shutout performance to help the Anglers down Wareham 11-1.

Chrest displayed elite command on his fastball and a nasty slider that he utilized late in counts. He fits like a glove within Sheetinger’s aggressive pitching philosophy, jamming strikes down opponents’ throats early and letting his off-speed pitches confuse hitters while ahead in the count.

He’s set to square off against Brewster’s Patrick Forbes. It may be early in the year, but Forbes put together one of the best outings seen on the Cape in his Whitecaps debut. He threw four innings of scoreless baseball, K’d nine and even tallied an immaculate inning. The right-hander from Louisville poses a threat against Chatham’s lineup, which currently ranks second-to-last in OPS in the Cape Cod Baseball League (.621).

Chatham Players To Watch

One of the Anglers’ most efficient players thus far has been Arquette. The star infielder out of Washington has put a consistent barrel on the ball throughout the season, yet he only has a .333 slugging percentage to show for it. He came up clutch for Chatham against Orleans with his go-ahead RBI in the ninth inning, and has tallied the third-highest OBP on the team (.444).

Meanwhile, outfielder Kyle Johnson (Duke) is in a similar position of untapped potential. He’s only accumulated one base knock in nine plate appearances, though it was a massive second-inning RBI single to shallow right field versus the Firebirds. A two-way player with the Blue Devils, Johnson’s pure athleticism can’t go unnoticed. And his bat should get going as he continues to settle in.

Brewster Players To Watch

Former Duke product, and current Ole Miss infielder, Andrew Fischer got off to a slow start in the Cape this year. But his latest performance turned things around in a major way. He led the Whitecaps’ offensive juggernaut against Wareham, tallying a double and one homer for six RBIs. Those numbers now count for the majority of his production for Brewster. He’s also taken a team-best six walks, showing his patience at the plate.

While Fischer is the Whitecaps’ most recent big performer, left fielder J.D. Rogers has been arguably the top hitter on the Cape thus far. His whopping 1.310 OPS and team-high eight hits over four appearances pit him as one of the most consistent players around. Rodgers’ OBP sits at .667 — the best mark in the CCBL through June 20. He’ll be a tough out for Chrest and Chatham’s pitching staff, which has allowed the second fewest runs in the league.

Number To Know: 3

Brewster’s obliteration of Wareham Thursday was an all-time feat. It was the third-largest advantage through three innings in CCBL history. The most lopsided ever was delivered by Chatham, which scored 16 runs in the third inning of an eventual 33-3 win over the Otis Air Force Base on June 22, 1963.

Nonetheless, the Whitecaps flashed their dominance Thursday. The Anglers’ pitching staff can’t afford to allow a string of baserunners early on as Brewster has clear potential to post gaudy numbers within an instant.

Last Time They Played

While Chatham was eliminated from playoff contention at the time, it still managed to defeat Brewster 7-4 in its final home game of 2023.

The Anglers were hot out of the gate, piecing together a 5-0 advantage through five frames. Kaeden Kent went 4-for-4 at the dish to lead the A’s in hits as they finished with 10 on the evening. It was Chatham’s first, and only, win over the Whitecaps last season.