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Anglers Weekly Roundup: MLB draftees, postseason promise
by Cooper Andrews
Monday, July 22, 2024
It’s been hectic in Chatham as of late. Mostly due to the throngs of players who left and the plentiful amount of replacements who the Anglers have added. The MLB Draft ravaged the A’s roster, yet they’ve still accumulated an 11-6 record more than halfway through July.
Though, the Anglers are currently amid a difficult four-game stretch, in which they suffered a pair of losses to Cotuit, another defeat to Hyannis but salvaged a win over Brewster to end a three-game losing skid. The A’s rank second in the East Division with 10 regular-season games remaining, and are six games into a playoff spot.
As the 2024 CCBL campaign winds down, here are five key takeaways from Chatham’s (16-14, East) past week of baseball:
Welcome To The Show
Twenty-four Chatham Anglers’ alumni were selected in the 2024 MLB Draft, held from July 14-16. But eight of them were from this summer’s roster alone.
The highest-drafted player, and Chatham’s lone position player from 2024 to be picked, was outfielder Austin Overn. He was picked in the third round with the 97th overall selection by the Baltimore Orioles. Overn, a USC product, led the A’s in just about every hitting statistic during his 23 games with the team, totaling a .314 batting average, .947 OPS, 27 hits and three homers. Overn’s athleticism and knack for contact make him an intriguing prospect.
Meanwhile, seven pitchers for Chatham this summer are MLB bound. Left-hander Griffin Herring (New York Yankees), left-hander Micah Ashman (Detroit Tigers), right-hander Titan Hayes (Philadelphia Phillies) and right-hander Drake George (San Francisco Giants) were all selected in the draft. Herring stands out as a reigning National Stopper of the Year candidate at LSU, and was the Anglers’ highest-drafted pitcher (round six, pick 181).
Righties Phil Fox and Pierce George, along with lefty Liam Paddack, were picked as well — all heading to the Chicago White Sox organization. White Sox general manager Chris Getz is a Chatham alumnus (’03-04), and he selected five former Anglers players in his first-ever draft since taking over the position in late 2023. Infielder Sam Antonacci (Chatham ’23) and two-way player Lyle Miller-Green (Chatham ’21-23) were picked by the White Sox, too.
Krauss Crushes Baseballs
Chayton Krauss (Dallas Baptist) was already at-odds upon his July 17 arrival in Chatham. His flight landed in Boston the morning of the Anglers’ home contest versus Bourne, in which Krauss slotted into the cleanup spot. He struggled, going 0-for-4 at the plate with three strikeouts. But Krauss has come into his own since then.
In five games, Krauss boasts a whopping 1.015 OPS, batting .286 along with a slugging percentage of .667. The corner infielder has blasted two home runs and tallied seven RBIs as well. Game one was forgettable, though Krauss rapidly adjusted.
“To know that I can turn it around was something pretty special,” Krauss said on July 18.
The rising senior at Dallas Baptist crushed two home runs in just his second game in an Anglers uniform. It came on July 18 at Cotuit, where Krauss belted a two-run shot in both the third and fifth innings against the Kettleers.
Despite Chatham’s loss, Krauss’ four RBIs were a team-high, while he also became the first Angler to put together a multi-home run game this summer. It’s only been less than a week since he joined the roster, but Krauss has set himself up to be a power-hitting staple at either first or third base for Chatham going forward.
More Newcomers Shine
Krauss is just one part of a large collection of newcomers who the Anglers have brought in to replace their MLB draftees, among others who left the Cape. Their pitching staff is made up of almost an entirely new group of arms, while their batting order has seen major changes up and down the lineup as well.
Yet, Chatham has fared well despite a litany of roster alterations. It successfully continued a five-game winning streak from July 11-17 amid a time where more than 10 players left.
“The winning is a byproduct of the people,” A’s manager Jeremy “Sheets” Sheetinger said after the A’s defeated Bourne 8-4 on July 17 to clinch five victories in a row, which was the best active streak in the CCBL at the time. “We’ve really collected a special group of people.”
A couple of key position players other than Krauss include Will Bermudez (UC Irvine) and Robin Villeneuve (Texas Tech). Bermudez’s athleticism and all-around ability stands out, as he can play the outfield and middle infield positions. He’s been clean in the field, showing plenty of range, and is putting together solid at-bats, too. As a switch-hitter, Bermudez is batting .231 with one homer, five RBIs and a .950 OPS across four appearances with the A’s.
Villeneuve has slotted in as Chatham’s regular first baseman with its former mainstay Luke Cantwell (Pittsburgh) having left the team on July 15. The incoming Texas Tech transfer has accumulated a .250 batting average and a .875 OPS, along with blasting one homer and tallying five hits for three RBIs. He hasn’t exploded as much as Krauss has at the corner infield spots, though Villeneuve’s also displayed a very quick adjustment to CCBL pitching.
On the mound, left-handed reliever Andrew Williams (Georgetown) has registered the top performance of recent newcomers thus far. On July 19 versus Hyannis, Williams tossed two scoreless, no-hit innings out of the bullpen. He struck out two batters while walking two as well. Albeit through one performance, Williams is a contender to help lead a now-depleted Anglers pitching staff that had seven day one players get drafted into MLB.
Cotuit Woes
The A’s were handed two losses to Cotuit over their last week of games. And each defeat occurred within a three-day period.
The first loss came on July 18, where Chatham traveled to face the Kettleers at Lowell Park and fell 8-5. Krauss’ two home runs set the table for the Anglers’ offense but instead, the A’s gave up five unanswered runs to end the contest while Cotuit’s bullpen stalled their bats. The game ended amid the eighth inning, where the Kettleers had scored three runs before the contest was ruled final due to a lack of light at the stadium.
Two days later, Chatham lost to Cotuit 11-5 at Veterans Field. This one was much more one-sided. The Kettleers blasted three momentum-shifting homers off Chatham pitchers Ryan Jenkins (St. Mary’s) and Devin Pressley (Gardner-Webb). The Anglers trailed 8-1 and could only scrape their way back within one more run through the rest of the game.
The defeats, which bookended a three-game losing skid that followed up a five-game winning streak for Chatham, highlight a larger issue. The Anglers are just 3-10 against teams that possess a record above .500. Cotuit ranks first in the West Division and while the A’s mustered one win against the Kettleers this summer, they are winless versus Yarmouth-Dennis — the East Division standings leader.
If Chatham qualifies for the postseason, it’ll need to materialize heightened success against some of the best teams in the CCBL. Though, the Anglers have time at their disposal to keep gelling as a new-look group. Plus, the playoffs are all but a sure thing through 30 games.
Postseason Promise
Chatham is well within position to qualify for its first CCBL Playoffs since 2019. The Anglers sit at second in the East Division, and only need to win five more games to clinch a postseason spot among an eight-team field — four clubs per division.
The success is partly due to Chatham’s track record in East Division play. It holds a 9-5 mark against opponents from the East. The A’s are 4-0 versus Orleans, 2-1 against Harwich and 3-1 versus Brewster. No matter how the Anglers’ roster has been configured, they’ve found limited trouble within their division.
“Anytime you have a chance to control and dictate your future, you have to show up,” Sheetinger said on July 20, a day before Chatham took on the Whitecaps.
While the Anglers haven’t yet defeated Y-D, the class of the East Division, the Red Sox’s key loss of star shortstop Wehiwa Aloy makes them a more beatable club in the future. Regardless, Chatham is in a spot where it will be expected to defeat the majority of its eastern counterparts in early-to-mid August.
Though, the Anglers are currently amid a difficult four-game stretch, in which they suffered a pair of losses to Cotuit, another defeat to Hyannis but salvaged a win over Brewster to end a three-game losing skid. The A’s rank second in the East Division with 10 regular-season games remaining, and are six games into a playoff spot.
As the 2024 CCBL campaign winds down, here are five key takeaways from Chatham’s (16-14, East) past week of baseball:
Welcome To The Show
Twenty-four Chatham Anglers’ alumni were selected in the 2024 MLB Draft, held from July 14-16. But eight of them were from this summer’s roster alone.
The highest-drafted player, and Chatham’s lone position player from 2024 to be picked, was outfielder Austin Overn. He was picked in the third round with the 97th overall selection by the Baltimore Orioles. Overn, a USC product, led the A’s in just about every hitting statistic during his 23 games with the team, totaling a .314 batting average, .947 OPS, 27 hits and three homers. Overn’s athleticism and knack for contact make him an intriguing prospect.
Meanwhile, seven pitchers for Chatham this summer are MLB bound. Left-hander Griffin Herring (New York Yankees), left-hander Micah Ashman (Detroit Tigers), right-hander Titan Hayes (Philadelphia Phillies) and right-hander Drake George (San Francisco Giants) were all selected in the draft. Herring stands out as a reigning National Stopper of the Year candidate at LSU, and was the Anglers’ highest-drafted pitcher (round six, pick 181).
Righties Phil Fox and Pierce George, along with lefty Liam Paddack, were picked as well — all heading to the Chicago White Sox organization. White Sox general manager Chris Getz is a Chatham alumnus (’03-04), and he selected five former Anglers players in his first-ever draft since taking over the position in late 2023. Infielder Sam Antonacci (Chatham ’23) and two-way player Lyle Miller-Green (Chatham ’21-23) were picked by the White Sox, too.
Krauss Crushes Baseballs
Chayton Krauss (Dallas Baptist) was already at-odds upon his July 17 arrival in Chatham. His flight landed in Boston the morning of the Anglers’ home contest versus Bourne, in which Krauss slotted into the cleanup spot. He struggled, going 0-for-4 at the plate with three strikeouts. But Krauss has come into his own since then.
In five games, Krauss boasts a whopping 1.015 OPS, batting .286 along with a slugging percentage of .667. The corner infielder has blasted two home runs and tallied seven RBIs as well. Game one was forgettable, though Krauss rapidly adjusted.
“To know that I can turn it around was something pretty special,” Krauss said on July 18.
The rising senior at Dallas Baptist crushed two home runs in just his second game in an Anglers uniform. It came on July 18 at Cotuit, where Krauss belted a two-run shot in both the third and fifth innings against the Kettleers.
Despite Chatham’s loss, Krauss’ four RBIs were a team-high, while he also became the first Angler to put together a multi-home run game this summer. It’s only been less than a week since he joined the roster, but Krauss has set himself up to be a power-hitting staple at either first or third base for Chatham going forward.
More Newcomers Shine
Krauss is just one part of a large collection of newcomers who the Anglers have brought in to replace their MLB draftees, among others who left the Cape. Their pitching staff is made up of almost an entirely new group of arms, while their batting order has seen major changes up and down the lineup as well.
Yet, Chatham has fared well despite a litany of roster alterations. It successfully continued a five-game winning streak from July 11-17 amid a time where more than 10 players left.
“The winning is a byproduct of the people,” A’s manager Jeremy “Sheets” Sheetinger said after the A’s defeated Bourne 8-4 on July 17 to clinch five victories in a row, which was the best active streak in the CCBL at the time. “We’ve really collected a special group of people.”
A couple of key position players other than Krauss include Will Bermudez (UC Irvine) and Robin Villeneuve (Texas Tech). Bermudez’s athleticism and all-around ability stands out, as he can play the outfield and middle infield positions. He’s been clean in the field, showing plenty of range, and is putting together solid at-bats, too. As a switch-hitter, Bermudez is batting .231 with one homer, five RBIs and a .950 OPS across four appearances with the A’s.
Villeneuve has slotted in as Chatham’s regular first baseman with its former mainstay Luke Cantwell (Pittsburgh) having left the team on July 15. The incoming Texas Tech transfer has accumulated a .250 batting average and a .875 OPS, along with blasting one homer and tallying five hits for three RBIs. He hasn’t exploded as much as Krauss has at the corner infield spots, though Villeneuve’s also displayed a very quick adjustment to CCBL pitching.
On the mound, left-handed reliever Andrew Williams (Georgetown) has registered the top performance of recent newcomers thus far. On July 19 versus Hyannis, Williams tossed two scoreless, no-hit innings out of the bullpen. He struck out two batters while walking two as well. Albeit through one performance, Williams is a contender to help lead a now-depleted Anglers pitching staff that had seven day one players get drafted into MLB.
Cotuit Woes
The A’s were handed two losses to Cotuit over their last week of games. And each defeat occurred within a three-day period.
The first loss came on July 18, where Chatham traveled to face the Kettleers at Lowell Park and fell 8-5. Krauss’ two home runs set the table for the Anglers’ offense but instead, the A’s gave up five unanswered runs to end the contest while Cotuit’s bullpen stalled their bats. The game ended amid the eighth inning, where the Kettleers had scored three runs before the contest was ruled final due to a lack of light at the stadium.
Two days later, Chatham lost to Cotuit 11-5 at Veterans Field. This one was much more one-sided. The Kettleers blasted three momentum-shifting homers off Chatham pitchers Ryan Jenkins (St. Mary’s) and Devin Pressley (Gardner-Webb). The Anglers trailed 8-1 and could only scrape their way back within one more run through the rest of the game.
The defeats, which bookended a three-game losing skid that followed up a five-game winning streak for Chatham, highlight a larger issue. The Anglers are just 3-10 against teams that possess a record above .500. Cotuit ranks first in the West Division and while the A’s mustered one win against the Kettleers this summer, they are winless versus Yarmouth-Dennis — the East Division standings leader.
If Chatham qualifies for the postseason, it’ll need to materialize heightened success against some of the best teams in the CCBL. Though, the Anglers have time at their disposal to keep gelling as a new-look group. Plus, the playoffs are all but a sure thing through 30 games.
Postseason Promise
Chatham is well within position to qualify for its first CCBL Playoffs since 2019. The Anglers sit at second in the East Division, and only need to win five more games to clinch a postseason spot among an eight-team field — four clubs per division.
The success is partly due to Chatham’s track record in East Division play. It holds a 9-5 mark against opponents from the East. The A’s are 4-0 versus Orleans, 2-1 against Harwich and 3-1 versus Brewster. No matter how the Anglers’ roster has been configured, they’ve found limited trouble within their division.
“Anytime you have a chance to control and dictate your future, you have to show up,” Sheetinger said on July 20, a day before Chatham took on the Whitecaps.
While the Anglers haven’t yet defeated Y-D, the class of the East Division, the Red Sox’s key loss of star shortstop Wehiwa Aloy makes them a more beatable club in the future. Regardless, Chatham is in a spot where it will be expected to defeat the majority of its eastern counterparts in early-to-mid August.
