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Game 37 Preview: Chatham vs. Wareham
Chatham followed up its playoff-clinching win over Brewster by beating Hyannis Wednesday at Veterans Field. Albeit, it did it in dramatic fashion. The Anglers' win Tuesday over the Whitecaps was mostly stress-free. Luke Yuhasz hit a (Louisiana Lafayette) three-run home run in the seventh to put Chatham up 13-2, which ended the game early via run-rule.
Wednesday looked to be heading in a similar direction. An eight-run bottom of the fifth — boosted by two grand slams — put Chatham up 10-2. The A’s entered the ninth with a seven-run advantage. A litany of walks loaded the bases and brought home three runs. Mason White represented the tying run with one out, driving a ball to the wall, but it was caught by Ashton Larson (LSU). One more out handed the Anglers a second straight win.
Now, Chatham turns its attention to Wareham. At one point, the Gatemen held the pole position in the West Division, though four straight losses have dropped them to third.
Here’s everything to know ahead of Chatham’s (18-18, East) matchup with Wareham (20-15-1, West) at Veterans Field:
Probable Starters
Chatham sends Lucas Hartman (Florida Gulf Coast) to the bump for his second appearance of the summer. Hartman had mixed success in his start against Bourne on July 25. He conceded four hits and allowed three earned runs in 3.2 innings while recording a single strikeout. During the spring at Florida Gulf Coast, Hartman accumulated a 5.72 ERA across 61.1 innings in 19 appearances — eight of which were starts.
Heath Andrews gets the nod for Wareham facing a Chatham lineup that has scored 23 runs over its last two games. Andrews has appeared in six games and started four this summer, recording a 4.08 ERA. The righty is allowing a .279 batting average to his opponents and his WHIP sits at 1.36.
Ty Johnson (Baylor) gave Chatham a huge boost against Hyannis with a fifth-inning grand slam. Larson hit one earlier in the frame, but following two base hits and a walk, Johnson pummeled a pitch from Maison Martinez. The center fielder is only batting .188 in 10 games with Chatham, yet he’s getting on base at a .333 rate. Johnson has also provided the Anglers with solid defense in center field since Austin Overn’s (Baltimore Orioles) departure.
Ike Irish (Auburn) left the Cape Wednesday, meaning Campbell Smithwick (Ole Miss) is the lone day-one catcher left on Chatham’s roster. The Anglers added Daniel Jackson, but Smithwick is likely to be the Anglers number one option behind the plate. Smithwick has put together a solid summer, batting .290 while registering a .378 on base percentage. He’s driven in 10 runs and his OPS sits at .717.
Murf Gray has been a consistent force for Wareham all season. He leads the Gatemen in plate appearances (127), but has struck out just 11 times. Gray is batting .323 and has driven in a team-high 26 runs — 10 more than any other player on Wareham’s roster.
Yohann Dessureault hasn’t played as much as Gray, appearing in six fewer games, but is just as productive. The second baseman leads Wareham in batting average (.333) and OPS (.915). Dessureault’s 31 hits and 16 RBI also both rank second on the Gateman.
Chatham has scored 23 runs over its past two games — its most productive two-game stretch all season. During their four-game losing streak, the Anglers averaged 4.5 runs per contest. Since then, their bats have come alive. Chatham has smashed three grand slams over the last two games. First, it was Chayton Krauss (Dallas Baptist) against Brewster, then came Johnson and Larson’s homers Wednesday.
Players up and down the Anglers’ lineup have produced during their last two wins. The A’s have 27 hits across their last two contests while seven different players have driven in runs.
Wareham blew by Chatham 9-2 at Spillane Field on July 9. A two-RBI single from Sam White in the first inning gave the Gatemen a lead they never surrendered. Two innings later, White hit a grand slam to all but seal a win. Brian Zeldin (Georgia) struggled on the mound, letting up six earned runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings.
Chatham produced as many hits at Wareham (eight), but remained scoreless until the ninth inning. The Gateman's first four pitchers didn’t allow a run, walking just one batter and striking out seven. The Anglers loss was their second straight to the Gatemen.
Wednesday looked to be heading in a similar direction. An eight-run bottom of the fifth — boosted by two grand slams — put Chatham up 10-2. The A’s entered the ninth with a seven-run advantage. A litany of walks loaded the bases and brought home three runs. Mason White represented the tying run with one out, driving a ball to the wall, but it was caught by Ashton Larson (LSU). One more out handed the Anglers a second straight win.
Now, Chatham turns its attention to Wareham. At one point, the Gatemen held the pole position in the West Division, though four straight losses have dropped them to third.
Here’s everything to know ahead of Chatham’s (18-18, East) matchup with Wareham (20-15-1, West) at Veterans Field:
Probable Starters
Chatham sends Lucas Hartman (Florida Gulf Coast) to the bump for his second appearance of the summer. Hartman had mixed success in his start against Bourne on July 25. He conceded four hits and allowed three earned runs in 3.2 innings while recording a single strikeout. During the spring at Florida Gulf Coast, Hartman accumulated a 5.72 ERA across 61.1 innings in 19 appearances — eight of which were starts.
Heath Andrews gets the nod for Wareham facing a Chatham lineup that has scored 23 runs over its last two games. Andrews has appeared in six games and started four this summer, recording a 4.08 ERA. The righty is allowing a .279 batting average to his opponents and his WHIP sits at 1.36.
Chatham Players To Watch
Ty Johnson (Baylor) gave Chatham a huge boost against Hyannis with a fifth-inning grand slam. Larson hit one earlier in the frame, but following two base hits and a walk, Johnson pummeled a pitch from Maison Martinez. The center fielder is only batting .188 in 10 games with Chatham, yet he’s getting on base at a .333 rate. Johnson has also provided the Anglers with solid defense in center field since Austin Overn’s (Baltimore Orioles) departure.
Ike Irish (Auburn) left the Cape Wednesday, meaning Campbell Smithwick (Ole Miss) is the lone day-one catcher left on Chatham’s roster. The Anglers added Daniel Jackson, but Smithwick is likely to be the Anglers number one option behind the plate. Smithwick has put together a solid summer, batting .290 while registering a .378 on base percentage. He’s driven in 10 runs and his OPS sits at .717.
Wareham Players To Watch
Murf Gray has been a consistent force for Wareham all season. He leads the Gatemen in plate appearances (127), but has struck out just 11 times. Gray is batting .323 and has driven in a team-high 26 runs — 10 more than any other player on Wareham’s roster.
Yohann Dessureault hasn’t played as much as Gray, appearing in six fewer games, but is just as productive. The second baseman leads Wareham in batting average (.333) and OPS (.915). Dessureault’s 31 hits and 16 RBI also both rank second on the Gateman.
Number To Know: 23
Chatham has scored 23 runs over its past two games — its most productive two-game stretch all season. During their four-game losing streak, the Anglers averaged 4.5 runs per contest. Since then, their bats have come alive. Chatham has smashed three grand slams over the last two games. First, it was Chayton Krauss (Dallas Baptist) against Brewster, then came Johnson and Larson’s homers Wednesday.
Players up and down the Anglers’ lineup have produced during their last two wins. The A’s have 27 hits across their last two contests while seven different players have driven in runs.
Last Time They Played
Wareham blew by Chatham 9-2 at Spillane Field on July 9. A two-RBI single from Sam White in the first inning gave the Gatemen a lead they never surrendered. Two innings later, White hit a grand slam to all but seal a win. Brian Zeldin (Georgia) struggled on the mound, letting up six earned runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings.
Chatham produced as many hits at Wareham (eight), but remained scoreless until the ninth inning. The Gateman's first four pitchers didn’t allow a run, walking just one batter and striking out seven. The Anglers loss was their second straight to the Gatemen.
