Game 24 Preview: Chatham vs. Orleans
by Cooper Andrews
Sunday, July 14, 2024
Chatham has accumulated a 7-3 record in the month of July, and carries its hot stretch into a matchup versus Orleans, the East Division’s last-place club. The Anglers enter Veterans Field following an off-day as their scheduled game at Cotuit was rescheduled to July 18 due to rain.
In Chatham’s last game, it delivered a 9-6 win over Brewster. The A’s knocked a season-best 13 hits, including a combined eight from Ike Irish (Auburn) and Ashton Larson (LSU).
Now, the Anglers take on Orleans, which is coming off a 9-4 upset win over first-place Yarmouth-Dennis. Chatham is 3-0 versus the Firebirds thus far in 2024.
Here’s what to know ahead of Chatham’s (12-11, East) fourth matchup of the summer against Orleans (7-16, East):
Probable Starters
The Anglers plan to start Ryan Jenkins (St. Mary's) on the mound Sunday evening. It will be Jenkins’s Chatham debut after being added to the roster Friday. He’s coming off a season at JUCO program Riverside City College, where he posted a 2.51 ERA across 61 innings. Jenkins struck out just under eight batters per nine innings pitched and accumulated a 0.95 WHIP.
Left-hander Miles Gosztola will take the rubber for Orleans. Gosztola, a rising sophomore at Gonzaga, is putting together a solid campaign for the Firebirds thus far. In five appearances (one start), he’s tallied a 0.90 ERA, nine strikeouts, a 0.80 WHIP and a perfect 2-0 record. He’s only allowed one earned run across the summer and is one of two Orleans pitchers who boasts a sub-1.00 ERA (Sean Matson).
Chatham Players To Watch
Chatham has seen a flood of relievers exit the team within the last handful of days. Xavier Richards (Sacramento State) is among the most notable incoming replacements. The righty appeared in a team-high 23 games this spring for Sacramento State and posted a 2.86 ERA in WAC play. Chatham first-year manager Jeremy “Sheets” Sheetinger said after the A’s win over Harwich Thursday that Richards could slot into a major late-relief role.
From the dish, Aiva Arquette has been one of the A’s most consistent players, batting .301 with 22 hits, three homers and a .832 OPS. The infielding prospect generates even more interest considering the former Washington product has entered the transfer portal.
Orleans Players To Watch
The Firebirds generated a season-high nine runs in their last outing Friday night against Yarmouth-Dennis. Outfielder Ben Zeigler-Namoa was among the main catalysts behind the effort, going 2-for-5 with a three-run homer. The home run came as part of a six-run eighth inning for Orleans to take over the game. Zeigler Namoa has totaled a tied-for-team-high two homers this summer and leads Orleans in OPS with a .837 mark.
Third baseman Hudson Shupe poses danger as well. The Gonzaga product is batting a team-best .333 this season along with lacing a team-high 21 hits. He doesn’t slug a ton, totaling a slugging percentage just over .400 and hitting no homers, but Shupe’s .391 OBP is the second-highest mark on the Firebirds.
Number To Know: 7
The Anglers’ pitching staff hasn’t failed on a single save opportunity this summer. They are a perfect 7-for-7 on saves, which is the best rate in the CCBL. While Cotuit sits 6-for-9 on save opportunities, tied for the second-most blown saves in the Cape League.
Even without former closer Titan Hayes (Austin Peay) on the roster anymore, Chatham is well equipped to salvage its late-relief responsibilities. Hayden Murphy (Auburn) clinched a four-out save to defeat Harwich the same day Hayes left the roster, which led Sheetinger to pin Murphy in as the closer of the future.
Last Time They Played
Chatham downed Orleans 4-1 at Veterans Field on July 4. It was the Anglers’ second win in as many days against the Firebirds, who lost 12-1 to the A’s the previous night.
The Anglers held a narrow lead for most of the game, courtesy of a pulverizing relief appearance from Micah Ashman (Utah). The lefty, who’s no longer with the A’s, tossed 5.1 shutout innings out of the bullpen and struck out five batters to keep the Firebirds quiet. Luke Cantwell (Pittsburgh) swifty ended matters with a two-run homer in the seventh.