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Chatham dismantles Brewster 13-2, clinches 1st playoff appearance since 2019
For the second straight night, Chatham had a chance to do something it hadn’t since 2019 — clinch a playoff spot. The Anglers failed at their first opportunity, falling 5-2 at Harwich Tuesday. This time, facing another East Division foe in Brewster, Chatham left no doubt.
The Anglers jumped on the Whitecaps early and never looked back. The night was punctuated by a walk-off three-run homer by Luke Yuhasz (Louisiana Lafayette) in the seventh inning, ending the game early via run-rule.
Chatham (17-18, East) clinched a spot in the CCBL Playoffs for the first time in five seasons with a 13-2 win over Brewster (12-22-2) in seven innings. Ike Irish (Auburn) and Chayton Krauss (Dallas Baptist) wreaked havoc at the top of the Anglers' lineup. The duo combined to go 4-for-7, driving in eight runs as the A’s emphatically defeated the Whitecaps to break a season-high four-game losing skid.
From day one, Chatham’s goal under former manager Jeremy “Sheets” Sheetinger was to return to the playoffs. The Anglers hadn’t made the postseason since their 2019 East Division title, but Sheetinger aimed to buck that trend. Even though he resigned last week, citing personal reasons, Sheetinger laid the groundwork for Chatham’s bounce-back season.
Interim manager Eric Beattie picked up right where Sheetinger left off, continuing to instill a fun, laid-back culture in Chatham.
The Anglers entered Tuesday with one win in their last eight games, but it remained clear Chatham was in poll position to break its postseason drought. The recent stretch only delayed the inevitable, which eventually came against the Whitecaps.
“I'm really happy that this awesome community that shows this team and these players so much support gets to go to a playoff game,” Beattie said postgame.
Chatham players mob Luke Yuhasz (pictured, middle) following his walk-off three-run homer to seal a 13-2 run-rule victory over Brewster, clinching the A's first postseason appearance in five years / Photograph by Ella Tovey
Chatham got the party started early. Two singles from Kyle Lodise (Georgia Tech) and Ty Johnson (Baylor) plus a walk from Robin Villeneuve (Texas Tech) loaded the bases in the second inning.
Yuhasz chopped an offering barely 20 feet up the third-base line. Brewster starter Darien Smith and catcher Ryder Helfrick each couldn’t come up with the slow-hit ball. Everyone reached safely and Chatham led 1-0.
Irish then initiated an onslaught. A single through the left side was Irish’s first of three hits on the night, making it 2-0 Chatham. Smith left a pitch hanging right over the plate, which Krauss pummeled into the trees in left field for Chatham’s first grand slam of the summer. The blast was Krauss’s third of the season, bringing his RBI total to 12 in 10 games.
Chatham’s 6-0 lead provided the Anglers with their first multi-run advantage since holding a 2-0 lead over Falmouth on July 23.
Though Krauss blasted a grand slam, it was Irish who stole the show in his last game with Chatham. Irish has been the Anglers most productive hitter this summer, entering Tuesday with a team-high 35 hits. He hasn’t hit for much power with two home runs but Irish got on base at a team-high .438 rate.
He also hadn’t driven in many runs, with just nine RBIs entering Tuesday, but he saved his most productive performance for last. Irish put on an all-round display, spraying each of his hits to a different part of the park.
In the fourth inning, the catcher drove his second base knock up the middle to score Villeneuve, increasing Chatham’s lead to 7-0. With Yuhasz on first two innings later, Irish smoked a fastball past Brody Donay down the first-base line. Yuhasz scored easily as Irish slid into third for his first triple of the season.
“I was just hunting my pitches and when they showed up, I didn't miss them and that's what I had to do tonight,” Irish said.
Irish didn’t think much about his lack of RBI production throughout the summer. His concerns came in the first two weeks of the season when he was hitting below .200. Irish worked with Chatham assistant Drew Guffey on his approach, and he eventually broke out of his early slump.
“Working hard doesn't always come with results, but in my opinion it increases your chances to be successful,” Irish said.
While Irish dominated at the plate, Chatham received much needed smooth outings from its pitchers. Over the last 15 days, the A’s were the lone team in the CCBL with an ERA over six, while also letting up the most home runs (15). The combination of Tyler Murphy (Florida Atlantic) and Gabe Van Emon (UConn) turned the ship around.
Tyler Murphy delivered a three-inning shutout start in Chatham's 13-2 playoff-clinching win over Brewster / Photograph by Ella Tovey
Murphy tossed three shutout innings allowing two hits and walking two batters. Van Emon replaced Murphy and continued to shut down a dangerous Brewster lineup, which has hit the second most home runs in the CCBL (36). Van Emon allowed three hits in four innings and struck out four batters.
“(Our) pitchers just did a good job of throwing strikes and when they did get behind in counts, they found a way to pitch themselves back into them,” Beattie said.
The lefty’s lone blemish on the mound came when Nick Dumesnil golfed a two-run home run to left field putting the Whitecaps on the board in the seventh inning.
Even then, it didn’t matter. Chatham piled on further in the bottom of the frame. Jayden Davis (Vanderbilt) pummeled a lead-off solo home run before two straight base knocks put Chatham on the edge of sealing a spot in the playoffs. Yuhasz then crushed a three-run home run to left field to put Chatham up 13-2. The left fielder’s blast ended the game early as the Anglers won via run-rule.
With five games in five days to conclude the regular season, Chatham has one more goal in mind prior to the postseason — seal a home playoff game at Veterans Field. Considering the Anglers remain three games ahead of third place Harwich in the east, the question seems to be not if, but when that will happen.
The Anglers jumped on the Whitecaps early and never looked back. The night was punctuated by a walk-off three-run homer by Luke Yuhasz (Louisiana Lafayette) in the seventh inning, ending the game early via run-rule.
Chatham (17-18, East) clinched a spot in the CCBL Playoffs for the first time in five seasons with a 13-2 win over Brewster (12-22-2) in seven innings. Ike Irish (Auburn) and Chayton Krauss (Dallas Baptist) wreaked havoc at the top of the Anglers' lineup. The duo combined to go 4-for-7, driving in eight runs as the A’s emphatically defeated the Whitecaps to break a season-high four-game losing skid.
From day one, Chatham’s goal under former manager Jeremy “Sheets” Sheetinger was to return to the playoffs. The Anglers hadn’t made the postseason since their 2019 East Division title, but Sheetinger aimed to buck that trend. Even though he resigned last week, citing personal reasons, Sheetinger laid the groundwork for Chatham’s bounce-back season.
Interim manager Eric Beattie picked up right where Sheetinger left off, continuing to instill a fun, laid-back culture in Chatham.
The Anglers entered Tuesday with one win in their last eight games, but it remained clear Chatham was in poll position to break its postseason drought. The recent stretch only delayed the inevitable, which eventually came against the Whitecaps.
“I'm really happy that this awesome community that shows this team and these players so much support gets to go to a playoff game,” Beattie said postgame.
Chatham players mob Luke Yuhasz (pictured, middle) following his walk-off three-run homer to seal a 13-2 run-rule victory over Brewster, clinching the A's first postseason appearance in five years / Photograph by Ella Tovey
Chatham got the party started early. Two singles from Kyle Lodise (Georgia Tech) and Ty Johnson (Baylor) plus a walk from Robin Villeneuve (Texas Tech) loaded the bases in the second inning.
Yuhasz chopped an offering barely 20 feet up the third-base line. Brewster starter Darien Smith and catcher Ryder Helfrick each couldn’t come up with the slow-hit ball. Everyone reached safely and Chatham led 1-0.
Irish then initiated an onslaught. A single through the left side was Irish’s first of three hits on the night, making it 2-0 Chatham. Smith left a pitch hanging right over the plate, which Krauss pummeled into the trees in left field for Chatham’s first grand slam of the summer. The blast was Krauss’s third of the season, bringing his RBI total to 12 in 10 games.
Chatham’s 6-0 lead provided the Anglers with their first multi-run advantage since holding a 2-0 lead over Falmouth on July 23.
Though Krauss blasted a grand slam, it was Irish who stole the show in his last game with Chatham. Irish has been the Anglers most productive hitter this summer, entering Tuesday with a team-high 35 hits. He hasn’t hit for much power with two home runs but Irish got on base at a team-high .438 rate.
He also hadn’t driven in many runs, with just nine RBIs entering Tuesday, but he saved his most productive performance for last. Irish put on an all-round display, spraying each of his hits to a different part of the park.
In the fourth inning, the catcher drove his second base knock up the middle to score Villeneuve, increasing Chatham’s lead to 7-0. With Yuhasz on first two innings later, Irish smoked a fastball past Brody Donay down the first-base line. Yuhasz scored easily as Irish slid into third for his first triple of the season.
“I was just hunting my pitches and when they showed up, I didn't miss them and that's what I had to do tonight,” Irish said.
Irish didn’t think much about his lack of RBI production throughout the summer. His concerns came in the first two weeks of the season when he was hitting below .200. Irish worked with Chatham assistant Drew Guffey on his approach, and he eventually broke out of his early slump.
“Working hard doesn't always come with results, but in my opinion it increases your chances to be successful,” Irish said.
While Irish dominated at the plate, Chatham received much needed smooth outings from its pitchers. Over the last 15 days, the A’s were the lone team in the CCBL with an ERA over six, while also letting up the most home runs (15). The combination of Tyler Murphy (Florida Atlantic) and Gabe Van Emon (UConn) turned the ship around.
Tyler Murphy delivered a three-inning shutout start in Chatham's 13-2 playoff-clinching win over Brewster / Photograph by Ella Tovey
Murphy tossed three shutout innings allowing two hits and walking two batters. Van Emon replaced Murphy and continued to shut down a dangerous Brewster lineup, which has hit the second most home runs in the CCBL (36). Van Emon allowed three hits in four innings and struck out four batters.
“(Our) pitchers just did a good job of throwing strikes and when they did get behind in counts, they found a way to pitch themselves back into them,” Beattie said.
The lefty’s lone blemish on the mound came when Nick Dumesnil golfed a two-run home run to left field putting the Whitecaps on the board in the seventh inning.
Even then, it didn’t matter. Chatham piled on further in the bottom of the frame. Jayden Davis (Vanderbilt) pummeled a lead-off solo home run before two straight base knocks put Chatham on the edge of sealing a spot in the playoffs. Yuhasz then crushed a three-run home run to left field to put Chatham up 13-2. The left fielder’s blast ended the game early as the Anglers won via run-rule.
With five games in five days to conclude the regular season, Chatham has one more goal in mind prior to the postseason — seal a home playoff game at Veterans Field. Considering the Anglers remain three games ahead of third place Harwich in the east, the question seems to be not if, but when that will happen.
