Anglers Look to Close Gap in Division Battle Against Harwich

by Chris Jones, 06-29-2013

After an incredible 6-0 start, the Anglers have fallen back to earth, enduring a rough 1-5-1 stretch over their past seven games.

Their last loss came in discouraging fashion, as the Harwich Mariners won 2-1 on a walk-off homerun by Tanner English (South Carolina) in the 10th inning.

"It definitely wasn't a good feeling," Brandon Sedell said. "It was a great game, but getting walked off in any game doesn't feel good."

After a rainout on Friday, the Anglers will get their second shot at Harwich in as many games, this time at Veterans Field.

On the mound for the Anglers, after having to push back his start on Friday, is Matt Gage (Siena). In his last start against Falmouth, Gage picked up the loss despite only allowing four hits and two earned-runs in five innings pitched.

On the season, Gage is 0-1 in two starts, managing a 4.65 ERA with six strikeouts in 9.2 innings pitched. Pitcher Lukas Schiraldi (Texas) has been impressed with what he has seen from Gage so far this season.

"He is a strike-thrower," Schiraldi said. "He has good stuff, and he throws it really well."

On the other side of the ball, the Chatham offense has been slumping of late, and are only hitting for a .238 team batting average. Mitchell Gunsolus (Gonzaga) leads the team in hitting with a .317 average, and has appeared in all 13 games this season.

Gunsolus leads the league in walks (11) and on base percentage (.472).

Leading the Harwich offense, and leading the league in hitting, is outfielder Aaron Barbosa (Northeastern). On the season, Barbosa is hitting for a .405 average, has four RBI, and 10 stolen bases. Against Chatham on Thursday, Barbosa had one hit, three stolen bases, and scored a run.

Coming into Saturday, Harwich leads the league in pitching with a 1.78 ERA.

Pitching for the Mariners, making his second start of the season, will be right-hander Keaton Haack (Alabama). In his first start, he only allowed five hits and one run, striking out four in 5.1 innings pitched.

For the Crimson Tide in 2013, he made 21 appearances but did not record a start. In those appearances, he had a 3.44 ERA, struck out 27, and held batters to a .193 batting average in 34 innings pitched.

Lately, the Angler bats have been stifled by excellent pitching. To Coach John Schiffner, though, that is just playing in the Cape Cod League.

"You're never going to face a bad pitcher in this league," Schiffner said. "I don't think our offense is the problem, we've just been facing great pitching."

First pitch at 7 p.m. Tune into the Anglers Extra Pregame Show at 6:40 p.m. for live coverage with broadcasters Brandon Liebhaber and Keith Zubrow at TRZ Teamline or call 1-800-846-4700, code 3841.

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