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Game 1 Preview: Chatham vs. Wareham

by David Schneidman
Sunday, June 10, 2018

Game 1 Preview: Chatham vs. Wareham

The Anglers open their season on Tuesday, June 12, with a matchup against the Wareham Gatemen at 7 p.m. at Veterans Field in Chatham.

In its past nine opening day games, Chatham is 7-1-1, with its only loss coming to Falmouth in 2016.

In a preseason game versus the Newport Gulls of the New England Collegiate Baseball League on June 7, Wareham fell 7-6. The Anglers have not participated in any preseason contests.

Expected to start for the A’s on Tuesday is right-hander Jack Conlon, a rising sophomore at San Jacinto Community College (Texas). Conlon spent his freshman year at Texas A&M, where he made two appearances out of the bullpen, against Prairie View A&M and Cornell, retiring all six batters he faced.

Spencer Torkelson, Kyle McCann and Benny Wanger headline a talented Anglers squad, each having impressive 2018 seasons at their respective colleges.

Torkelson, an infielder, belted 25 home runs while batting .320 during his freshman campaign at Arizona State in 2018. Sun Devils head coach Tracy Smith has described Torkelson’s power as “Schwarber-esque”, in reference to Chicago Cubs power-hitter Kyle Schwarber, who Smith coached during his time at Indiana. The freshman was awarded several honors as a result of his standout season, including being named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.

McCann, a Suwanee, Ga. native, has spent his collegiate baseball career close to home, playing first base and catcher at Georgia Tech. The rising junior boasted a .300 average, recording 15 home runs and 45 RBI. McCann showed vast improvement from freshman to sophomore year, boosting his batting average by over .100 while more-than-doubling his hit total despite playing in just six more games. His improvements during his sophomore campaign earned McCann a spot on the All-ACC Third Team.

Wanger, a two-way player, has established his presence from both the mound and the plate during his first three years at Yale. Primarily a closer during his junior season, Wanger registered six saves along with 32 strikeouts in 30 innings. At one point, the right-hander tossed 19 consecutive innings without allowing a run. With his bat, Wanger tallied three long balls and 11 extra-base hits as a junior. His efforts earned him First-Team All-Ivy honors as a pitcher and Second-Team All-Ivy honors as a first baseman.

The season opener marks the first of four meetings between Chatham and Wareham this season.