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Game 36 Preview: Chatham at Brewster
by Tyler Schiff
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Chatham dropped its third straight defeat Tuesday in a 9–3 loss to Hyannis at Veterans Field. Though the Anglers capitalized on two errors and a Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek single to take a 3–2 lead in the fifth inning, they couldn’t hold on. The visiting Harbor Hawks strung together seven combined runs across the sixth and seventh frames to sweep the season series.
On Wednesday, Chatham travels to Brewster. With nine games remaining, the fourth-placed Whitecaps currently sit eight points above the Anglers and are in possession of the final East Division playoff position.
Here’s everything you need to know before Chatham (10–23–2 East) and Brewster (14–21–2 East) face off at Stony Brook Field.
Carson Pierce (Oklahoma): In his Angler debut, Pierce initially pitched five scoreless innings, along with five strikeouts, but entered a jam in the sixth before eventually exiting the mound. In his first season as a Sooner in 2023, Pierce managed a 3.94 ERA.
Darien Smith (Southeastern): Smith suffered a nightmarish first start for Brewster on July 18. The righty allowed six earned runs on four hits and three walks during an eventual 15–8 win over Yarmouth-Dennis. Smith has only pitched an inning since.
Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek (Southern California): Last time out, Grudzielanek tallied a team-high two hits, including a one-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning. Though Grudzielanek has suffered as of late, totaling just two connections in his last 17 at-bats, he’s shown glimpses this summer, stringing together a five-game hitting streak from July 16 to July 20.
Liam Paddack (Spokane Community College): Paddack, who plans to enroll at Gonzaga in the Fall, could likely enter in relief of Pierce at Brewster. The lefty last featured in a thrilling 12–12 tie on July 19 at Cotuit. Paddack entered the game in the fourth inning, down 9–1, but managed to shutout the Kettleers through the next three frames. Paddack holds a 5.29 ERA in 17 total innings pitched.
James Tibbs (Florida State): The 2023 Home Run Hitting Contest champion, Tibbs has launched six moonshots and tallied a team-high 23 RBIs this summer. He enters Wednesday’s contest amid a two-game hitting streak.
Jaime Ferrer (Florida State): Ferrer’s enjoyed similar successes to his college teammate, Tibbs, this season. The Seminole has charted 13 RBIs while owning a .312 batting average in 93 turns at the plate. Ferrer has also earned 13 walks in 2023, good enough for fourth-highest on the Whitecaps.
Chatham hasn’t won at Stony Brook Field in its last nine visits. The Anglers’ last road win over the Whitecaps was on July 16, 2019. Currently sitting eight points behind Brewster, a victory Wednesday will be pivotal in Chatham’s race for its first postseason berth since 2019.
Chatham and Brewster last matched up on July 16 at Veterans Field. The Whitecaps defeated the Anglers 6–5.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, down 6–3, Chatham’s Tyler Wulfert and Grudzielanek garnered hits to make it a one-score affair.
After reliever Maxx Yehl shutout the Whitecaps in the sixth, however, the Anglers’ bats never got another opportunity to swing as the game was rained out.
On Wednesday, Chatham travels to Brewster. With nine games remaining, the fourth-placed Whitecaps currently sit eight points above the Anglers and are in possession of the final East Division playoff position.
Here’s everything you need to know before Chatham (10–23–2 East) and Brewster (14–21–2 East) face off at Stony Brook Field.
Probable Starters
Carson Pierce (Oklahoma): In his Angler debut, Pierce initially pitched five scoreless innings, along with five strikeouts, but entered a jam in the sixth before eventually exiting the mound. In his first season as a Sooner in 2023, Pierce managed a 3.94 ERA.
Darien Smith (Southeastern): Smith suffered a nightmarish first start for Brewster on July 18. The righty allowed six earned runs on four hits and three walks during an eventual 15–8 win over Yarmouth-Dennis. Smith has only pitched an inning since.
Chatham Players To Watch
Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek (Southern California): Last time out, Grudzielanek tallied a team-high two hits, including a one-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning. Though Grudzielanek has suffered as of late, totaling just two connections in his last 17 at-bats, he’s shown glimpses this summer, stringing together a five-game hitting streak from July 16 to July 20.
Liam Paddack (Spokane Community College): Paddack, who plans to enroll at Gonzaga in the Fall, could likely enter in relief of Pierce at Brewster. The lefty last featured in a thrilling 12–12 tie on July 19 at Cotuit. Paddack entered the game in the fourth inning, down 9–1, but managed to shutout the Kettleers through the next three frames. Paddack holds a 5.29 ERA in 17 total innings pitched.
Brewster Players To Watch
James Tibbs (Florida State): The 2023 Home Run Hitting Contest champion, Tibbs has launched six moonshots and tallied a team-high 23 RBIs this summer. He enters Wednesday’s contest amid a two-game hitting streak.
Jaime Ferrer (Florida State): Ferrer’s enjoyed similar successes to his college teammate, Tibbs, this season. The Seminole has charted 13 RBIs while owning a .312 batting average in 93 turns at the plate. Ferrer has also earned 13 walks in 2023, good enough for fourth-highest on the Whitecaps.
Number To Know: 9
Chatham hasn’t won at Stony Brook Field in its last nine visits. The Anglers’ last road win over the Whitecaps was on July 16, 2019. Currently sitting eight points behind Brewster, a victory Wednesday will be pivotal in Chatham’s race for its first postseason berth since 2019.
Last Time They Played
Chatham and Brewster last matched up on July 16 at Veterans Field. The Whitecaps defeated the Anglers 6–5.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, down 6–3, Chatham’s Tyler Wulfert and Grudzielanek garnered hits to make it a one-score affair.
After reliever Maxx Yehl shutout the Whitecaps in the sixth, however, the Anglers’ bats never got another opportunity to swing as the game was rained out.
