Chatham’s first two battles against Wareham couldn’t have been more different.

The two sides faced off on Opening Day, where the Anglers defeated the Gatemen 11-1 via run-rule at Spillane Field. A scoreless, six-strikeout start from Evan Chrest (Florida State) and consistent offense allowed Chatham to cruise to a dominant victory.

In the second meeting, however, a second-inning grand slam hit by Wareham center fielder Brendan Summerhill was all the Gatemen needed to down the Anglers. Summerhill had Chatham’s pitching staff’s number, totaling a whopping six RBIs on three hits. All while the A’s offense tallied nine hits but were held without a run past the fifth frame.

The Anglers now embark on a two-game roadstand, beginning late Friday afternoon versus Yarmouth-Dennis. The Red Sox are currently atop the East Division and enter their matchup against Chatham following a 5-3 away win over Orleans.

Here’s everything to know before Chatham (5-6, East) travels to face Yarmouth-Dennis (8-3, East) Friday in the two teams’ second meeting of 2024:

Probable Starters

Sheetinger’s squad will send righty Drake George (Lewis-Clark State College) out to the rubber versus the Red Sox. George dazzled in his Chatham debut on June 22, playing a major role in Anglers’ 9-2 win over Falmouth. He tossed five scoreless innings, struck out six batters and only issued one walk. George notched a winning decision against the Commodores and is the lone Chatham starting pitcher to record a win thus far.

Yarmouth-Dennis is set to start Dylan Vigue for the second time this year. He was deemed the losing pitcher in his first appearance on June 21 against Wareham, giving up four earned runs in four frames. Vigue, a 6-foot-3 right-hander from the University of Michigan, struck out four in his Red Sox debut, though he allowed a solo homer in the first inning to Wareham’s Antonio Jimenez.

 

Chatham Players To Watch

While he’s only been part of Chatham’s roster for the last three games, Ashton Larson (LSU) provided encouraging signs that he can make an impact in Thursday’s game versus Wareham. The SEC product ripped three singles in four at-bats, tying the Gatemen’s Summerhill for a game-high in hits. Larson looked poised at the dish despite not receiving much time to acclimate to Cape League pitching.

Jayden Davis (Vanderbilt) also put together a solid performance against Wareham. He swatted two singles and even unleashed a scorching line drive with runners on first and second in the eighth inning, but the ball went right at second baseman Bobby Boser. One-third of Davis’s hits this year came Thursday as the second baseman contains an OPS of just .417 across 10 appearances. Yet, his most recent start elicits hope.

Y-D Players To Watch

Oklahoma catcher/designated hitter Easton Carmichael stands out among the Cape’s most prolific hitters thus far. His OPS sits at a menacing 1.109 mark while he’s tied for third in the Cape Cod Baseball League with 10 RBIs. Carmichael leads the Red Sox in most offensive categories, and will be a tough out all game long for Chatham’s George.

Infielder Wehiwa Aloy is the next-closest member on Yarmouth-Dennis to reaching Carmichael’s status. The rising junior at Arkansas has slammed two homers and racked up 10 RBIs while batting at an efficient .289 clip. In Aloy’s last game versus Orleans, he delivered a go-ahead two-run single in the top of the eighth inning, putting Y-D ahead 5-3 for what became the ultimate blow to the Firebirds’ chances.

Number To Know: 7

Thursday’s loss to Wareham was an uncharacteristic night for Chatham’s pitching staff. Between Liam Paddack (Gonzaga), Tyler Kozera (UCF) and Jett Johnston (Texas A&M), the three combined for seven wild pitches — a season-worst for the Anglers. The lack of control caused the Gatemen to run ragged around the bases. It played into the A’s losing despite out-hitting Wareham 9-8.

Last Time They Played

The Anglers fell to the Red Sox 2-1 in their home opener on June 16. It was Chatham’s first loss of the Sheetinger era. Despite a stellar start from lefty hurler Griffin Herring (LSU), the Anglers failed to score until the bottom of the eighth inning.

Y-D plated a run in both the fifth and the seventh frames, scoring on a Phoenix Call RBI single and a Micah Ashman (Utah) wild pitch, respectively. Will Gasparino (Texas) roped a solo homer to right-center field, yet that was all the offensive production Chatham could muster.