Rick Oropesa (USC) powered the Anglers to a come from behind victory Saturday night over the Cotuit Kettleers at Veterans Field with two home runs, including a game-tying three run shot in the bottom of the ninth. With the bases loaded in that same inning, Beau Amaral (UCLA) was hit by a pitch to bring home a run, and give Chatham the 10-9 victory. The Anglers have now won six of their last seven contests, and pull within just two points of the Harwich Mariners for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Division with an 18-19-1 record.

Derek Self (Louisville) took to the mound for the first time since his appearance in the Cape League All Star Game Wednesday night at Fenway Park, and pitched a scoreless first inning despite hitting Cotuit left fielder Michael Yastrzemski (Vanderbilt) to lead off the frame. The Anglers would be retired in order in the home half of the inning by starter Matt Murray (Ga. Southern).

Self came on to start his second inning of work and, after inducing a leadoff pop out to short, allowed the next three batters to reach with a pair of singles and a fielder's choice. With the bases loaded and just one down, Yastrzemski stepped in for his second at-bat in as many innings and blasted a grand slam home run to right field to put Cotuit up 4-0.

Not to be outdone, Oropesa stepped in with one out in the bottom of the inning and belted a solo home run to straightaway center field, his first of the night, to pull the Anglers within three.

The Kettleers would tack on two more runs in the top of the third after three consecutive singles to lead off the frame. After a strikeout by third baseman Levi Hyams (Georgia), shortstop Deven Marrero (Arizona St.) would bunt in a run, followed by an RBI fielder's choice in the next at-bat by catcher Joey Hainsfurther (Baylor) to give Cotuit a 6-1 lead.

The Kettleers' lead would be cut to four in the bottom half of the inning after both Jason Martin (San Jose St.) and Amaral were hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. A single by first baseman Aaron Westlake (Vanderbilt) in the next at-bat advanced Martin to third before a throw by center fielder Chad Wright (Kentucky) skipped away from Hyams at third allowing Martin to score.

Zack Jones (San Jose St.) would be brought on to start the fourth inning in place of Self and retired the side in order in each of his first two innings of work. He would get two runs of support from the offense in the bottom of the fifth after a single by Westlake, followed by a double in the next at-bat by third baseman Mark Ginther (Oklahoma St.). After Oropesa was walked intentionally in the next at-bat, shortstop Joe DePinto (USC) lifted an RBI sacrifice fly to right, allowing Westlake to score. Right fielder Brooks Pinckard (Baylor) threw home in an attempt to catch Westlake and had his relay skip away from Hainsfurther, allowing Ginther to score and bringing the Anglers to within two.

Chatham would tack on another run in the sixth off of Pinckard who came on in relief of Murray to start the inning, striking out the first two batters he faced. Martin would walk in the next at-bat and advance to third on a single by Amaral in the next at-bat. He would then advance home on a wild pitch and bring the Anglers within a run with a score of 6-5.

Garrett Davis (UNC) would come on in the seventh in relief of Jones and allow a run on three hits, including a single by Marrero to plate second baseman John Hinson (Clemson) from second and put Cotuit up 7-5. Two more Kettleers runs would come across in the eighth with pitcher Nick Tropeano (Stony Brook) singling in his first at-bat of the season to lead off the frame. Two walks, with a pop out to short thrown in, over the next three batters loaded the bases and chased Davis, who was replaced by reliever Matt Brazis (Boston College), who allowed a two-run single by designated hitter Paul Hoilman (East Tenn.) to put Cotuit up 9-5.

The Anglers would get another run in the bottom half of the inning with Dan Paolini (Siena) pinch-hitting in place of second baseman Riley Reynolds (Vanderbilt) and blasting a one-out double to left. He would advance to third on a wild pitch, and come home to score on an RBI sacrifice fly by Martin. Kevin Vance (UConn) would come on to pitch the ninth, and retired the side with two strikeouts and a ground out with one walk.

Tropeano would be kept on for his third inning of work in an attempt to close out the contest, but allowed a walk and a single to lead off the frame. With two men on and no outs, Oropesa blasted a no-doubt three-run home run to left center field to tie the score 9-9. DePinto would single in the next at-bat, and advance to second on a sacrifice bunt in the next at-bat by designated hitter Phil Pohl (Clemson). Paolini would draw an intentional walk two batters later, followed by a single off the bat of Martin in the next at-bat to load the bases and chase Tropeano. Right hander Michael Frongello (Davidson) was brought on in relief to face Amaral, the ninth batter of the inning. After a first-pitch called strike, Frongello hit Amaral with a pitch and brought home DePinto for the winning run. Oropesa has now hit three home runs over the past three games.

The Anglers take to the road Sunday afternoon for two nine inning contests at two separate locations, with a 1pm start at Falmouth, and a 6pm start at Wareham. Tune in to both broadcasts starting with the Anglers Extra Pregame show starting at 12:40pm and 5:40pm at www.chathamanglers.com, or dial in and listen live on your home or mobile telephone at 1-800-846-4700, team code 3841.

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www.flickr.com Chatham Anglers' Game 38 vs Cotuit photoset