Anglers News« Back to 2024 News |
Chatham blanks Wareham 4-0, locks up No. 2 seed in East Division
Eric Beattie wore a wide smile following Chatham’s first shutout victory of the summer.
He couldn’t help but laugh at what would transpire the next time Chatham takes batting practice. As a reward for tossing nine scoreless innings, the Anglers' pitching staff would receive the ultimate prize — their own BP session.
With designated hitters, gone are the days of pitchers taking hacks at the plate. Pitchers yearn for the chance to swing for the fences to see if they can slap one out of the park. So when JD McReynolds (Central Missouri) recorded Chatham’s final out Thursday, the staff was delirious.
“Pitchers BP is something that every single pitcher on any team wants,” Chatham starter Lucas Hartman (Western Kentucky) said postgame. “If you're good enough to keep the other team's hitters from scoring, then you deserve to hit as well.”
As a former pitcher, Beattie is no stranger to the tradition. Though it may not be enticing.
“We're gonna have to report a little early probably,” Chatham’s interim manager said postgame.
Hartman, Devin Pressley (Gardner-Webb) and McReynolds combined to throw nine scoreless innings as Chatham (19-18, East) blanked Wareham (20-16-1, West) 4-0. The A’s trio of hurlers allowed three hits, holding the Gatemen to just one base knock in the final six innings. Chatham issued a season-low one walk and fanned 11 Wareham batters as the Anglers sealed the No. 2 seed in the East Division.
Over the last two nights, Chatham’s bats stole the show. The Anglers’ 23 runs in wins over Brewster and Hyannis was their highest total across a two-game stretch all summer.
Prior to its scorching hot stretch, Chatham found itself in an offensive rut. That changed in their last two wins. Thirteen runs against Brewster instantly pulled Chatham out of its slump. Ten more on the Harbor Hawks created even more momentum during the final stretch of the regular season.
Yet the story Thursday wasn’t Chatham at the plate — it came on the mound.
The Anglers struggled to string consistent starts as of late. They let up an average of eight runs per game in its four losses to Falmouth, Y-D, Bourne and Harwich. Chatham’s pitching staff needed to right the ship. Just two runs allowed against Brewster and three through the first eight innings against Hyannis set the stage for the lockdown performance Thursday.
Right-handed relief pitcher Devin Pressley tossed three shutout, no-hit innings with four strikeouts in Chatham's 4-0 victory over Wareham / Photograph by Ella Tovey
Hartman said Beattie kept a simple message prior to Thursday’s matchup. Throw as many first-pitch strikes and it’ll work out for them.
The righty took the message to heart. He mowed down Wareham’s lineup, which came into the game holding the best OPS in the CCBL. A seven-pitch one-two-three first inning was a sign of things to come for Hartman.
Two strikeouts and a soft groundout helped Hartman retire Wareham’s first six batters. Beattie said that Hartman did a great job of pounding the zone and “it felt like he was 0-1 every batter.”
Chatham rewarded Hartman’s strong start with early run support. Robin Villeneuve (Texas Tech) cranked a first-inning home run to put Chatham on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Jordan Williams (Florida State), Jayden Davis (Vanderbilt) and Ty Johnson (Baylor) each recorded RBIs to make it 4-0 Chatham by the end of the third inning.
The insurance was more than enough for Hartman. The righty stayed well in control unlike his first start over a week ago at Bourne. At Doran Park, Hartman gave up three earned runs on four hits in 3.2 innings. He said he wasn’t in control of his off-speed pitches, either spiking them in the dirt or leaving them up high. Facing Wareham was a different story.
The only trouble Hartman faced came in the top of the third when he allowed back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. Davis caught a line drive at second base from Colby Turner for the first out. Yohann Dessureault then flew out to left field. Aris Rivera attempted to tag up, but Williams had enough time to set himself and fire a bullet to Campbell Smithwick (Ole Miss) at home plate, keeping the shutout alive.
Hartman retired six of the next eight batters and exited after five innings. His outing set the stage for Pressley, who continued to keep Wareham’s bats quiet. Similar to his predecessor, Pressley had a rocky start with Chatham. Yet Beattie remained confident in Pressley and the rest of his pitching staff.
“You don't learn from going out there and being good all the time,” Beattie said. "You learn when things don't go your way and that's good feedback for what you need to do to get better and make adjustments from there.”
Pressley bridged the gap between Hartman and McReynolds. He tossed three perfect innings, fanning four of the nine Wareham batters he faced. Beattie said Pressley stayed consistent and kept everything at the bottom of the strike zone. He also mixed in pitches that dipped below as he constantly fooled the Gatemen.
Even though Chatham’s offense remained stagnant following its early four-run outburst, there wasn’t a need for more insurance as its pitchers continued to dominate.
Tension was palpable in Chatham’s dugout during the ninth inning as McReynolds trotted his way to the mound. The Anglers bullpen migrated from left field, joining their teammates along the third base side. Chatter among the pitchers grew. One more zero on the scoreboard and they would get their wish.
“They knew the deal,” Beattie said.
Dessureault led off the frame with a single for Wareham’s first baserunner since the fifth inning. McReynolds followed it up by striking out Antonio Jimenez and Reese Chapman. Eli Putnam grounded out to seal Chatham’s third straight victory. More importantly, it gave the Anglers’ pitching staff something they’d been yearning for all season.
Following the shutout, Tanner Franklin (Tennessee) issued a warning ahead of his batting practice session. According to Beattie, Franklin told the firefighters in the firehouse on Depot Road to be careful and the animals that sit in the trees in left field to look alive.
Franklin’s jokes came as a result of a lockdown outing from three Chatham pitchers. It was a lighthearted moment to conclude the Anglers’ best pitching performance of the season.
“It's a good, fun, loose atmosphere,” Beattie said. “I give these guys a lot of credit because they do a good job of having fun and also getting their day-to-day work.”
He couldn’t help but laugh at what would transpire the next time Chatham takes batting practice. As a reward for tossing nine scoreless innings, the Anglers' pitching staff would receive the ultimate prize — their own BP session.
With designated hitters, gone are the days of pitchers taking hacks at the plate. Pitchers yearn for the chance to swing for the fences to see if they can slap one out of the park. So when JD McReynolds (Central Missouri) recorded Chatham’s final out Thursday, the staff was delirious.
“Pitchers BP is something that every single pitcher on any team wants,” Chatham starter Lucas Hartman (Western Kentucky) said postgame. “If you're good enough to keep the other team's hitters from scoring, then you deserve to hit as well.”
As a former pitcher, Beattie is no stranger to the tradition. Though it may not be enticing.
“We're gonna have to report a little early probably,” Chatham’s interim manager said postgame.
Hartman, Devin Pressley (Gardner-Webb) and McReynolds combined to throw nine scoreless innings as Chatham (19-18, East) blanked Wareham (20-16-1, West) 4-0. The A’s trio of hurlers allowed three hits, holding the Gatemen to just one base knock in the final six innings. Chatham issued a season-low one walk and fanned 11 Wareham batters as the Anglers sealed the No. 2 seed in the East Division.
Over the last two nights, Chatham’s bats stole the show. The Anglers’ 23 runs in wins over Brewster and Hyannis was their highest total across a two-game stretch all summer.
Prior to its scorching hot stretch, Chatham found itself in an offensive rut. That changed in their last two wins. Thirteen runs against Brewster instantly pulled Chatham out of its slump. Ten more on the Harbor Hawks created even more momentum during the final stretch of the regular season.
Yet the story Thursday wasn’t Chatham at the plate — it came on the mound.
The Anglers struggled to string consistent starts as of late. They let up an average of eight runs per game in its four losses to Falmouth, Y-D, Bourne and Harwich. Chatham’s pitching staff needed to right the ship. Just two runs allowed against Brewster and three through the first eight innings against Hyannis set the stage for the lockdown performance Thursday.
Right-handed relief pitcher Devin Pressley tossed three shutout, no-hit innings with four strikeouts in Chatham's 4-0 victory over Wareham / Photograph by Ella Tovey
Hartman said Beattie kept a simple message prior to Thursday’s matchup. Throw as many first-pitch strikes and it’ll work out for them.
The righty took the message to heart. He mowed down Wareham’s lineup, which came into the game holding the best OPS in the CCBL. A seven-pitch one-two-three first inning was a sign of things to come for Hartman.
Two strikeouts and a soft groundout helped Hartman retire Wareham’s first six batters. Beattie said that Hartman did a great job of pounding the zone and “it felt like he was 0-1 every batter.”
Chatham rewarded Hartman’s strong start with early run support. Robin Villeneuve (Texas Tech) cranked a first-inning home run to put Chatham on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Jordan Williams (Florida State), Jayden Davis (Vanderbilt) and Ty Johnson (Baylor) each recorded RBIs to make it 4-0 Chatham by the end of the third inning.
The insurance was more than enough for Hartman. The righty stayed well in control unlike his first start over a week ago at Bourne. At Doran Park, Hartman gave up three earned runs on four hits in 3.2 innings. He said he wasn’t in control of his off-speed pitches, either spiking them in the dirt or leaving them up high. Facing Wareham was a different story.
The only trouble Hartman faced came in the top of the third when he allowed back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. Davis caught a line drive at second base from Colby Turner for the first out. Yohann Dessureault then flew out to left field. Aris Rivera attempted to tag up, but Williams had enough time to set himself and fire a bullet to Campbell Smithwick (Ole Miss) at home plate, keeping the shutout alive.
Hartman retired six of the next eight batters and exited after five innings. His outing set the stage for Pressley, who continued to keep Wareham’s bats quiet. Similar to his predecessor, Pressley had a rocky start with Chatham. Yet Beattie remained confident in Pressley and the rest of his pitching staff.
“You don't learn from going out there and being good all the time,” Beattie said. "You learn when things don't go your way and that's good feedback for what you need to do to get better and make adjustments from there.”
Pressley bridged the gap between Hartman and McReynolds. He tossed three perfect innings, fanning four of the nine Wareham batters he faced. Beattie said Pressley stayed consistent and kept everything at the bottom of the strike zone. He also mixed in pitches that dipped below as he constantly fooled the Gatemen.
Even though Chatham’s offense remained stagnant following its early four-run outburst, there wasn’t a need for more insurance as its pitchers continued to dominate.
Tension was palpable in Chatham’s dugout during the ninth inning as McReynolds trotted his way to the mound. The Anglers bullpen migrated from left field, joining their teammates along the third base side. Chatter among the pitchers grew. One more zero on the scoreboard and they would get their wish.
“They knew the deal,” Beattie said.
Dessureault led off the frame with a single for Wareham’s first baserunner since the fifth inning. McReynolds followed it up by striking out Antonio Jimenez and Reese Chapman. Eli Putnam grounded out to seal Chatham’s third straight victory. More importantly, it gave the Anglers’ pitching staff something they’d been yearning for all season.
Following the shutout, Tanner Franklin (Tennessee) issued a warning ahead of his batting practice session. According to Beattie, Franklin told the firefighters in the firehouse on Depot Road to be careful and the animals that sit in the trees in left field to look alive.
Franklin’s jokes came as a result of a lockdown outing from three Chatham pitchers. It was a lighthearted moment to conclude the Anglers’ best pitching performance of the season.
“It's a good, fun, loose atmosphere,” Beattie said. “I give these guys a lot of credit because they do a good job of having fun and also getting their day-to-day work.”
