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Game 10 Preview: Chatham vs. Hyannis
The Anglers have now faced every team in the Cape Cod Baseball League up until this point. Their first nine matchups resulted in a 4-5 record, showing hopeful glimpses of a postseason appearance in the future.
Yet for the first time in 2024, Chatham must respond from two consecutive losses. It had followed every single win up with a loss, and loss up with a win, through its first seven contests. Though a 4-1 defeat at Cotuit and a 4-2 loss at Harwich displayed similar formulas that led to negative results: strong pitching, but a lack of consistent offense.
With a return to Veterans Field to battle Hyannis on the horizon, the Anglers will have a chance to right their previous wrongs after an off day Tuesday. It’s Chatham’s second game of the year versus the Harbor Hawks, who defeated the A’s in a blowout on June 18.
Here’s everything to know prior to Chatham’s (4-5, East) contest against Hyannis (5-3-1, West) Wednesday night:
Left-hander Griffin Herring (LSU) has returned to the Anglers’ roster following a stint at the MLB Draft Combine. He’s set to make his second start of the season Wednesday.
Herring’s first appearance came on June 16 in Chatham’s home opener versus Yarmouth-Dennis. The LSU star tossed 3.2 innings of scoreless, no-hit baseball and struck out three batters. He had been placed into a long-reliever role over his first two seasons with the Tigers, and only garnered one collegiate start before starting for the Anglers. But, albeit through one game, Herring’s LSU-best 1.79 ERA in 2024 has seamlessly transitioned over to the Cape regardless of his role.
The Harbor Hawks plan to go with Luke Nichols on the mound Wednesday. Nichols transferred to Louisiana Tech ahead of his junior season and put together solid numbers. He registered a 4.46 ERA in 16 starts while walking just 29 batters and striking out 82. With Hyannis, Nichols got the ball on June 20 against Bourne — tossing 4.1 innings, giving up one earned run and K’ing four.
The clear standout on the Anglers thus far has been center fielder Austin Overn (USC). He leads Chatham in almost every offensive category. Overn’s blasted two home runs, drove in eight runs, slugged .697 and accumulated a 1.097 OPS, which are all team-highs. The lead-off man is even coming off a three-hit game in the A’s loss to Harwich Monday.
Elsewhere, Will Gasparino (Texas) is a candidate to step into a larger role considering the departure of outfielder Kyle Johnson (Duke) to Team USA. Gasparino has been more of a platoon guy so far, totaling six games and 15 at-bats. Still, his talent is clear. The 6-foot-6 outfielder pummeled a pinch-hit homer in his first-ever plate appearance with the Anglers, though he’s been held hitless since.
Harbor Hawks’ first baseman Zach Yorke ended Chatham’s first meeting with Hyannis in one swing. The Grand Canyon product belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning as the Anglers never plated a run. Yorke has been mostly quiet other than that, totaling a .125 batting average and seven RBIs through seven appearances. But Yorke showed Chatham that it must be careful leaving pitches over the heart of the zone against him.
Hyannis’ star in the lineup thus far, though, is Austin Peay’s Jon Jon Gazdar. He leads the team with 12 hits and two home runs, and is the lone member of the Harbor Hawks with an OPS over 1.000. Gazdar has also driven in 13 runs, which is the best total in the CCBL.
Across nine outings, the A’s pitching staff has totaled the best ERA on the cape at a glowing 2.68 mark. No other club on the Cape boasts a sub-3.00 ERA.
The Anglers have received consistent performances from their starting pitchers while relievers have done well to limit gaudy production from the opposition. The one team that’s really got to their pitching staff is Hyannis, which unleashed for double-digits in the first matchup.
Chatham traveled to Hyannis for its fourth game of the year, falling by a lopsided 11-0 scoreline. The Anglers out-hit the Harbor Hawks 7-6, yet they also committed three errors, struck out 12 times at the dish and walked seven Hyannis batters.
It was Chatham’s second game of the campaign that ended in a seven-inning run-rule. Though it defeated Wareham 11-1 in the season-opener in seven frames, it came out on the losing end of the run rule versus the Harbor Hawks.
Yet for the first time in 2024, Chatham must respond from two consecutive losses. It had followed every single win up with a loss, and loss up with a win, through its first seven contests. Though a 4-1 defeat at Cotuit and a 4-2 loss at Harwich displayed similar formulas that led to negative results: strong pitching, but a lack of consistent offense.
With a return to Veterans Field to battle Hyannis on the horizon, the Anglers will have a chance to right their previous wrongs after an off day Tuesday. It’s Chatham’s second game of the year versus the Harbor Hawks, who defeated the A’s in a blowout on June 18.
Here’s everything to know prior to Chatham’s (4-5, East) contest against Hyannis (5-3-1, West) Wednesday night:
Probable Starters
Left-hander Griffin Herring (LSU) has returned to the Anglers’ roster following a stint at the MLB Draft Combine. He’s set to make his second start of the season Wednesday.
Herring’s first appearance came on June 16 in Chatham’s home opener versus Yarmouth-Dennis. The LSU star tossed 3.2 innings of scoreless, no-hit baseball and struck out three batters. He had been placed into a long-reliever role over his first two seasons with the Tigers, and only garnered one collegiate start before starting for the Anglers. But, albeit through one game, Herring’s LSU-best 1.79 ERA in 2024 has seamlessly transitioned over to the Cape regardless of his role.
The Harbor Hawks plan to go with Luke Nichols on the mound Wednesday. Nichols transferred to Louisiana Tech ahead of his junior season and put together solid numbers. He registered a 4.46 ERA in 16 starts while walking just 29 batters and striking out 82. With Hyannis, Nichols got the ball on June 20 against Bourne — tossing 4.1 innings, giving up one earned run and K’ing four.
Chatham Players To Watch
The clear standout on the Anglers thus far has been center fielder Austin Overn (USC). He leads Chatham in almost every offensive category. Overn’s blasted two home runs, drove in eight runs, slugged .697 and accumulated a 1.097 OPS, which are all team-highs. The lead-off man is even coming off a three-hit game in the A’s loss to Harwich Monday.
Elsewhere, Will Gasparino (Texas) is a candidate to step into a larger role considering the departure of outfielder Kyle Johnson (Duke) to Team USA. Gasparino has been more of a platoon guy so far, totaling six games and 15 at-bats. Still, his talent is clear. The 6-foot-6 outfielder pummeled a pinch-hit homer in his first-ever plate appearance with the Anglers, though he’s been held hitless since.
Hyannis Players To Watch
Harbor Hawks’ first baseman Zach Yorke ended Chatham’s first meeting with Hyannis in one swing. The Grand Canyon product belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning as the Anglers never plated a run. Yorke has been mostly quiet other than that, totaling a .125 batting average and seven RBIs through seven appearances. But Yorke showed Chatham that it must be careful leaving pitches over the heart of the zone against him.
Hyannis’ star in the lineup thus far, though, is Austin Peay’s Jon Jon Gazdar. He leads the team with 12 hits and two home runs, and is the lone member of the Harbor Hawks with an OPS over 1.000. Gazdar has also driven in 13 runs, which is the best total in the CCBL.
Number To Know: 2.68
Across nine outings, the A’s pitching staff has totaled the best ERA on the cape at a glowing 2.68 mark. No other club on the Cape boasts a sub-3.00 ERA.
The Anglers have received consistent performances from their starting pitchers while relievers have done well to limit gaudy production from the opposition. The one team that’s really got to their pitching staff is Hyannis, which unleashed for double-digits in the first matchup.
Last Time They Played
Chatham traveled to Hyannis for its fourth game of the year, falling by a lopsided 11-0 scoreline. The Anglers out-hit the Harbor Hawks 7-6, yet they also committed three errors, struck out 12 times at the dish and walked seven Hyannis batters.
It was Chatham’s second game of the campaign that ended in a seven-inning run-rule. Though it defeated Wareham 11-1 in the season-opener in seven frames, it came out on the losing end of the run rule versus the Harbor Hawks.
