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Chatham’s 2024 position player breakdown
by Zak Wolf
Friday, June 14, 2024
Following a 15-27-2 season in which it missed the 2023 Cape Cod League Playoffs, Chatham starts its 2024 season with an almost completely new group of players. Under the guidance of first-year manager Jeremy “Sheets” Sheetinger, the Anglers have a wide variety of players on their roster.
The A’s have a good mix of power hitters like Ike Irish and Ty Dalley along with guys who can frequently get on base including Luke Cantwell and Jayden Davis. Aiva Arquette is a strong point defensively with his large frame along with Campbell Smithwick behind the plate.
“We’ve got a great organization, we need to rebuild the product on the field and in the dugout, so we’re systematically doing that,” Sheetinger said. “As it comes together, I think again it’s going to be a product our community is proud of.”
Here’s a breakdown of Chatham’s position players with more insight from Sheetinger:
Jayden Davis (2B) - Vanderbilt
Davis spent his freshman season at Samford where he led the Bulldogs with a .358 batting average before transferring to Vanderbilt. The second baseman made a seamless transition to the Commodores with 53 hits in 46 games and registering 36 RBIs. Sheetinger said Davis “rolls out of bed and knows how to hit” and expects him to be one of the team’s “most consistent guys over the course of the summer.”
Landon Stripling (3B) - Florida
The No. 76 overall incoming freshman in the 2023 class according to Perfect Game, Stripling was a rotational piece for Texas Tech as a freshman. He hit four home runs and recorded 20 RBIs, but transferred to Florida in early June.
Ike Irish (Catcher) - Auburn
Irish has been one of Auburn’s best players the past two seasons. He made the 2023 All-SEC Freshman Team before putting together a stellar sophomore campaign. Irish blasted a team-high 14 home runs and knocked in 59 RBIs, earning him a First-Team All-SEC selection this season as a designated hitter.
Logan Poteet (Catcher) - Vanderbilt
Poteet saw limited action with Vanderbilt this season, only appearing in 11 games and starting eight. When Poteet got playing time, he showed flashes — smashing three home runs in 29 at-bats and driving in 10 RBIs.
Campbell Smithwick (Catcher) - Ole Miss
Described as an “accomplished young player” by Sheetinger, Smithwick was an instant impact freshman with Ole Miss. Despite not being a consistent starter, Smithwick batted .253 in 75 plate appearances for the Rebels, driving in 11 RBIs as well. Smithwick will bat toward the top of Chatham’s lineup and is one of three catchers on the A’s roster.
Luke Cantwell (INF) - Pittsburgh
Cantwell was a .300 hitter in his first two collegiate seasons with Fairleigh Dickinson, but spent 2024 with Pittsburgh. Cantwell constantly got on base for the Panthers, finishing third in the ACC with an on-base percentage of .511 while also setting the Pitt single-season walk record with 57 of them. Sheetinger explained his mature approach at the plate is “one of his superpowers.”
“He really knows the zone, he knows his zone, and has a really detailed plan and approach each at bat,” Sheetinger said. “The best part is he knows the way to unlock who he wants to be as an offensive player.”
Kyle Lodise (INF) - Georgia Tech
A Division II product from Augusta University, Lodise brings another strong bat to Chatham’s lineup. Lodise was the 2023 Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and followed it up with another great sophomore season. The infielder led Augusta with a .693 slugging percentage along with a .369 batting average.
“He does an outstanding job of being who he is and being that guy consistently,” Sheetinger said of Lodise. “He’s an energy bug for us … he’s one of those undercovered guys in the league that we hope puts together a great summer.”
John Bay (OF) - Austin Peay
Bay adds major power to Chatham’s lineup, coming off a season with 24 home runs for Austin Peay, only trailing former A’s player Lyle Miller-Green. The outfielder played for Oklahoma State for two seasons, but transferred to Austin Peay in 2023. Bay played more than double of the games he did last season, starting 55 and finished with 72 RBIs and a .817 slugging percentage while making Second-Team All-Atlantic Sun.
Will Gasparino (OF) - Texas
Gasparino came to Texas as a highly touted recruit as the No. 44 player in the class of 2023, according to Perfect Game. Gasparino lived up to expectations, starting 58 games for the Longhorns while finishing with 12 home runs, the fourth most on the team, and was third on Texas with 47 RBIs. Gasparino was selected for the Big 12 All-Freshman team and was also an All-Big 12 honorable mention.
Kyle Johnson (OF) - Duke
Johnson served as both a pitcher and outfielder as a freshman for Duke this season. Johnson pitched 49.1 innings for the Blue Devils, striking out 53 batters while recording a 4.38 ERA. At the plate, Johnson batted .253 and finished with 11 RBIs on a .480 slugging percentage. Despite being labeled a “young pup” by Sheetinger, the first-year manager feels Johnson will end up being a productive player for the Anglers the more experience he gets.
Jett Johnston (OF) - Texas A&M
Johnston was used sparingly as a freshman for Texas A&M, making just three starts and 13 total appearances. Johnston totalled just 16 at-bats, tallying three hits and six strikeouts while accumulating an OBP of .381.
Ashton Larson (OF) - LSU
Larson was the top player in Kansas in the 2023 class, according to Perfect Game. He was also selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 20th round of the 2023 MLB Draft. With LSU, Larson was a solid contributor as a freshman starting 40 games. Larson got on base often with a .401 OBP while totalling 16 RBIs.
Caleb Stelly (OF) - Louisiana Lafayette
Stelly improved drastically as a sophomore for Louisiana Lafayette, improving in every offensive statistic. The outfielder started just 10 games as a freshman, but increased that total to 46 in 2024. After registering eight RBIs in 52 at-bats in 2023, Stelly drove in 33 runs this season while making 162 plate appearances. Although Stelly hit just one home run, he was fourth on the Ragin’ Cajuns with 13 doubles.
Luke Yahasz (OF) - Louisiana Lafayette
Similar to his teammate Stelly, Yahasz made huge strides as a sophomore with Louisiana Lafayette. Yahasz doubled his appearances this season, playing in 45 total games and starting 29. The outfielder increased his batting average from .233 to .318, which was the fourth highest average for the Ragin Cajuns. Yahasze also drove in 21 runs with a .579 slugging percentage.
Austin Overn (OF) - USC
Overn burst onto the scene as a freshman with USC in 2023, leading the country in triples and setting the USC single-season program record with 14. He was also an All-Pac 12 Defensive Team selection. While his numbers slightly dipped in 2024, Overn still was a big contributor for the Trojans. Overn had a .270 batting average and blasted eight home runs after hitting just four in 2023.
Aiva Arquette (SS) - Washington
Expected to be Chatham’s starting shortstop, Arquette brings strong defense and a consistent bat to its lineup. As a freshman, Arquette struggled to stay healthy for Washington leading to just 15 appearances, but in 2024 he started 48 games. Sheetinger explained Arquette “has a knack for hitting the balls in the gaps” while also providing the Anglers with elite defense. Standing at 6-foot-4, Sheetinger compared Arquette’s range combined with his height at shortstop to Troy Tulowitzki.
“He’s an undercover guy that nobody knows about because he’s stuck up in Seattle, but he is one of the best players on the west coast that we hope has an awesome summer on the east coast,” Sheetinger said.
Justin Lebron (SS) - Alabama
Lebron was one of Alabama’s best hitters as a freshman, ranking second on the team in batting average (.338) combined with a .546 slugging percentage. The shortstop earned a number of accolades in his first season in Tuscaloosa, making the SEC All-Freshman Team along with the SEC All-Defensive Team. Lebron capped off his season with four hits in two games in the NCAA Tournament, which garnered an All-Tallahassee region selection.
Ty Dalley (UTL) - Mercer
Dalley brings plenty of power to the A’s lineup with 38 home runs across the past two seasons for Mercer. Seventeen of Dalley's 48 hits as a freshman were home runs before blasting 21 in 2024 to lead the Bears. Dalley ranked first on Mercer in slugging percentage (.693) and RBIs (71), leading to a First Team All-Southern Conference selection.
Luke Dotson (UTL) - Mississippi State
Dotson was utilized mostly as a pitcher for Mississippi State this season, pitching 12 innings in 11 total appearances. In limited action, Dotson struck out 19 batters, only walked five and didn’t allow a home run. Dotson only had one at-bat all season which came against Georgia on April 6.
The A’s have a good mix of power hitters like Ike Irish and Ty Dalley along with guys who can frequently get on base including Luke Cantwell and Jayden Davis. Aiva Arquette is a strong point defensively with his large frame along with Campbell Smithwick behind the plate.
“We’ve got a great organization, we need to rebuild the product on the field and in the dugout, so we’re systematically doing that,” Sheetinger said. “As it comes together, I think again it’s going to be a product our community is proud of.”
Here’s a breakdown of Chatham’s position players with more insight from Sheetinger:
Jayden Davis (2B) - Vanderbilt
Davis spent his freshman season at Samford where he led the Bulldogs with a .358 batting average before transferring to Vanderbilt. The second baseman made a seamless transition to the Commodores with 53 hits in 46 games and registering 36 RBIs. Sheetinger said Davis “rolls out of bed and knows how to hit” and expects him to be one of the team’s “most consistent guys over the course of the summer.”
Landon Stripling (3B) - Florida
The No. 76 overall incoming freshman in the 2023 class according to Perfect Game, Stripling was a rotational piece for Texas Tech as a freshman. He hit four home runs and recorded 20 RBIs, but transferred to Florida in early June.
Ike Irish (Catcher) - Auburn
Irish has been one of Auburn’s best players the past two seasons. He made the 2023 All-SEC Freshman Team before putting together a stellar sophomore campaign. Irish blasted a team-high 14 home runs and knocked in 59 RBIs, earning him a First-Team All-SEC selection this season as a designated hitter.
Logan Poteet (Catcher) - Vanderbilt
Poteet saw limited action with Vanderbilt this season, only appearing in 11 games and starting eight. When Poteet got playing time, he showed flashes — smashing three home runs in 29 at-bats and driving in 10 RBIs.
Campbell Smithwick (Catcher) - Ole Miss
Described as an “accomplished young player” by Sheetinger, Smithwick was an instant impact freshman with Ole Miss. Despite not being a consistent starter, Smithwick batted .253 in 75 plate appearances for the Rebels, driving in 11 RBIs as well. Smithwick will bat toward the top of Chatham’s lineup and is one of three catchers on the A’s roster.
Luke Cantwell (INF) - Pittsburgh
Cantwell was a .300 hitter in his first two collegiate seasons with Fairleigh Dickinson, but spent 2024 with Pittsburgh. Cantwell constantly got on base for the Panthers, finishing third in the ACC with an on-base percentage of .511 while also setting the Pitt single-season walk record with 57 of them. Sheetinger explained his mature approach at the plate is “one of his superpowers.”
“He really knows the zone, he knows his zone, and has a really detailed plan and approach each at bat,” Sheetinger said. “The best part is he knows the way to unlock who he wants to be as an offensive player.”
Kyle Lodise (INF) - Georgia Tech
A Division II product from Augusta University, Lodise brings another strong bat to Chatham’s lineup. Lodise was the 2023 Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and followed it up with another great sophomore season. The infielder led Augusta with a .693 slugging percentage along with a .369 batting average.
“He does an outstanding job of being who he is and being that guy consistently,” Sheetinger said of Lodise. “He’s an energy bug for us … he’s one of those undercovered guys in the league that we hope puts together a great summer.”
John Bay (OF) - Austin Peay
Bay adds major power to Chatham’s lineup, coming off a season with 24 home runs for Austin Peay, only trailing former A’s player Lyle Miller-Green. The outfielder played for Oklahoma State for two seasons, but transferred to Austin Peay in 2023. Bay played more than double of the games he did last season, starting 55 and finished with 72 RBIs and a .817 slugging percentage while making Second-Team All-Atlantic Sun.
Will Gasparino (OF) - Texas
Gasparino came to Texas as a highly touted recruit as the No. 44 player in the class of 2023, according to Perfect Game. Gasparino lived up to expectations, starting 58 games for the Longhorns while finishing with 12 home runs, the fourth most on the team, and was third on Texas with 47 RBIs. Gasparino was selected for the Big 12 All-Freshman team and was also an All-Big 12 honorable mention.
Kyle Johnson (OF) - Duke
Johnson served as both a pitcher and outfielder as a freshman for Duke this season. Johnson pitched 49.1 innings for the Blue Devils, striking out 53 batters while recording a 4.38 ERA. At the plate, Johnson batted .253 and finished with 11 RBIs on a .480 slugging percentage. Despite being labeled a “young pup” by Sheetinger, the first-year manager feels Johnson will end up being a productive player for the Anglers the more experience he gets.
Jett Johnston (OF) - Texas A&M
Johnston was used sparingly as a freshman for Texas A&M, making just three starts and 13 total appearances. Johnston totalled just 16 at-bats, tallying three hits and six strikeouts while accumulating an OBP of .381.
Ashton Larson (OF) - LSU
Larson was the top player in Kansas in the 2023 class, according to Perfect Game. He was also selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 20th round of the 2023 MLB Draft. With LSU, Larson was a solid contributor as a freshman starting 40 games. Larson got on base often with a .401 OBP while totalling 16 RBIs.
Caleb Stelly (OF) - Louisiana Lafayette
Stelly improved drastically as a sophomore for Louisiana Lafayette, improving in every offensive statistic. The outfielder started just 10 games as a freshman, but increased that total to 46 in 2024. After registering eight RBIs in 52 at-bats in 2023, Stelly drove in 33 runs this season while making 162 plate appearances. Although Stelly hit just one home run, he was fourth on the Ragin’ Cajuns with 13 doubles.
Luke Yahasz (OF) - Louisiana Lafayette
Similar to his teammate Stelly, Yahasz made huge strides as a sophomore with Louisiana Lafayette. Yahasz doubled his appearances this season, playing in 45 total games and starting 29. The outfielder increased his batting average from .233 to .318, which was the fourth highest average for the Ragin Cajuns. Yahasze also drove in 21 runs with a .579 slugging percentage.
Austin Overn (OF) - USC
Overn burst onto the scene as a freshman with USC in 2023, leading the country in triples and setting the USC single-season program record with 14. He was also an All-Pac 12 Defensive Team selection. While his numbers slightly dipped in 2024, Overn still was a big contributor for the Trojans. Overn had a .270 batting average and blasted eight home runs after hitting just four in 2023.
Aiva Arquette (SS) - Washington
Expected to be Chatham’s starting shortstop, Arquette brings strong defense and a consistent bat to its lineup. As a freshman, Arquette struggled to stay healthy for Washington leading to just 15 appearances, but in 2024 he started 48 games. Sheetinger explained Arquette “has a knack for hitting the balls in the gaps” while also providing the Anglers with elite defense. Standing at 6-foot-4, Sheetinger compared Arquette’s range combined with his height at shortstop to Troy Tulowitzki.
“He’s an undercover guy that nobody knows about because he’s stuck up in Seattle, but he is one of the best players on the west coast that we hope has an awesome summer on the east coast,” Sheetinger said.
Justin Lebron (SS) - Alabama
Lebron was one of Alabama’s best hitters as a freshman, ranking second on the team in batting average (.338) combined with a .546 slugging percentage. The shortstop earned a number of accolades in his first season in Tuscaloosa, making the SEC All-Freshman Team along with the SEC All-Defensive Team. Lebron capped off his season with four hits in two games in the NCAA Tournament, which garnered an All-Tallahassee region selection.
Ty Dalley (UTL) - Mercer
Dalley brings plenty of power to the A’s lineup with 38 home runs across the past two seasons for Mercer. Seventeen of Dalley's 48 hits as a freshman were home runs before blasting 21 in 2024 to lead the Bears. Dalley ranked first on Mercer in slugging percentage (.693) and RBIs (71), leading to a First Team All-Southern Conference selection.
Luke Dotson (UTL) - Mississippi State
Dotson was utilized mostly as a pitcher for Mississippi State this season, pitching 12 innings in 11 total appearances. In limited action, Dotson struck out 19 batters, only walked five and didn’t allow a home run. Dotson only had one at-bat all season which came against Georgia on April 6.
