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Veterans Field, Chatham, MA

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Chatham hosts Brewster after annual Fourth of July parade

by Jesse Dougherty
Saturday, July 05, 2014

Chatham hosts Brewster after annual Fourth of July parade

Inclement weather kept the Anglers off the field on Fourth of July night, but the team was able to celebrate the holiday in an even more traditional way. 

Chatham players, coaches, athletic trainers and team officials walked in the annual Fourth of July parade on Friday, and received something of a hero’s welcome from the town. Bunches of people lined both sides of Main St. from its start at Shore Rd. to the intersection by the Chatham Village Market, wrapping around the rotary and passing Veterans Field along the way. 

Now, a day after of the parade, the Anglers (10-9-1) will host Brewster (8-12) at 7 p.m. The team won’t have a Fourth of  July result to build off of, but experiencing the undying support of its town may viably hold the place. Max Tishman (Wake Forest) is expected to start for Chatham and Andrew Lee for the Whitecaps, the same pitching matchup as the first time the teams met.

“It was really special to be there and see how many people support us,” right-handed pitcher Bryan Goossens (Siena) said. “It was an unreal experience.”

Amid bands, promotional floats and other groups, the Anglers received an ovation at every stop along the way — partly for their bats, arms, gloves and legs, and another part for the handfuls of candy that they sprinkled into the crowd. Then stickers and high-fives replaced the candy, and the team got everyone involved in an unsuccessful game of “keep the ball in the air.” 

The players have come from all corners of the country — Chimacum, Wash., Yarmouth, Maine, Madisonville, La., and 25 others towns — to be ingredients in a slice of americana. Friday was a big bite of that, a patriotic celebration with America’s past time, manifested by a group of 20-some year olds, as the centerpiece. 

In the middle of the parade, a man flagged down shortstop Kal Simmons (Kennesaw State) and asked what happened in Thursday night’s game. Simmons, who had made the final out of Chatham’s 9-7 win as the second leg of a double play, had to turn to his teammates for the score.  

To the players, Thursday’s game, like any game, was one of many. To the town, the baseball isanything but commonplace. And even with a storm expected to sweep through Cape Cod by mid-afternoon, they took their chance to thank their team.  

Said Goossens: “I was amazed by how many people showed up yesterday, especially with the impending storms.”

Related content 

Full photo gallery from the Fourth of July parade

Broadcast information 

Broadcast coverage of the Anglers and Whitecaps begins at 6:40 p.m. with the Anglers Extra Pregame Show. Watch and listen on TRZ Teamline or listen by phone 1-800-846-4700, code 3481. Visit Broadcast Central for more information.