Loading...
Today's Game
Fri, 07/11/25 - 6:30 PM @ HARWICH
Next Game - Sat, 07/12/25 - 7 PM
ORLEANS @ CHATHAM, Veterans Field
Listen/View Live Schedule

Anglers News


« Back to 2025 News

Chatham begin 2nd half of summer with 2-0 loss to Brewster in defensive battle

by Cooper Andrews
Wednesday, July 09, 2025

Chatham begin 2nd half of summer with 2-0 loss to Brewster in defensive battle
BREWSTER, Mass. — As high as Roman Martin (UCLA) jumped, it wasn’t far enough to scrape a reality where Chatham’s offense was playing to its potential.

Amid a near-flawless start for A’s right-handed hurler Austin Breedlove (Tennessee/transfer), Whitecaps’ left fielder Carson Tinney blasted a ball that rose a few feet above Martin’s head at third base. Martin instantly leapt in the air while extending his right arm to the sky, miraculously snagging the scorcher to save an extra-base hit. Martin then tossed to second baseman Gavin Gallaher (North Carolina) to double off Brewster right fielder Ryan Martin.

Martin’s spectacular effort closed out a shutout second inning for Breedlove and the Anglers. Problem was, Martin’s play defined the A’s performance Wednesday at Stony Brook Field: excellence in the field, difficulties at the dish.

After a 5.0-inning, three-strikeout, one-hit shutout from Breedlove, Chatham (8-10-3 East) got held to two hits by Brewster (12-8-1, East) as the Anglers lost 2-0 in an eight-inning ballgame that was called early due to darkness. Chatham finished 0-for-8 on at-bats with runners in scoring position. It marks the A’s first defeat to the Whitecaps of 2025. It also widens the gap between Chatham and Brewster in the East Division; the Whitecaps (25 points, second place) lead the Anglers (19 points, fourth place) by six points.

Breedlove’s outing was much-needed for the A’s, who entered Wednesday bearing the second-worst team earned run average (4.66) in the CCBL. It’s a stepping stone for a Chatham pitching staff that’s been ravaged by the MLB Draft and the dreaded innings limit — the Anglers lost stud righty JT Quinn (Georgia) and southpaw Ethan Calder (Baylor) for these reasons.

But Wednesday’s shortcomings also beckon a new reality in Chatham. First-year manager Dennis Cook’s squad must adjust to life without star center fielder Henry Ford (Tennessee) and second baseman Ethan Mendoza (Texas), a pair that spurred much of the Anglers’ first-half offensive production. Both players left the Cape on Monday. Now, with the second half of the regular season underway, new faces must step up.

Thus far in two games without Ford and Mendoza, the A’s have tallied zero runs and seven hits across 17 innings. It’s a far cry from an offense that entered this week averaging 5.1 runs per game, which paced the Cape League through 19 contests.

Thursday’s CCBL-wide off day couldn’t be coming at a better time. Still, it’s clear the Anglers have to work to regain their groove so they can prevent a brief lull from spiraling into a suffocating slump.

They nearly broke the doors open in the third inning versus Brewster, but a prime chance went to no avail. Whitecaps’ right-hander Duncan Marsten allowed just two hits in 3.2 scoreless innings of work, though he issued four walks and loaded the bags before exiting for lefty Spencer Seid in the top of the fourth. After Chatham right fielder Ashton Larson (LSU/transfer) stepped into the lefty batter’s box with a two-out chance, Seid induced a lineout to third base.

It was the best chance for the Anglers to threaten the home team during Breedlove’s spotless start. They were blanked by the Whitecaps through the opening five frames. With Breedlove only at 50 pitches after four innings, Cook then made the untraditional choice of leaving his starter out there into the fifth. Breedlove answered the call with a fifth consecutive shutout frame. Left-hander Charlie Foster (Mississippi State) replaced Breedlove in the sixth.

Though Breedlove’s gem highlighted the day, well, that was likely the last start for the draft-eligible righty. So Chatham will have to replace his production, too.

Those who will remain on the roster experienced much less success than Breedlove did Wednesday. While the Anglers took walks (they finished with six bases on balls) and limited strikeouts (they only suffered four Ks), that didn’t amount to runs. They repeatedly faltered with runners in scoring position.

Both sides could barely buy a hit — until the moment Breedlove exited.

The Whitecaps’ second hit of the game, a bunt single by Adam Magpoc, proved to be consequential. Magpoc beat out the knock with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Foster initially answered by forcing a flyout to third baseman Colton Coates, but then Magpoc took matters upon himself. The speedy center fielder swiped second and third base, taking advantage of a high and methodical leg kick in Foster’s windup from the stretch.

With Magpoc at third, Brewster shortstop Cal Fisher drilled a single up the middle of the diamond that allowed Magpoc to coast home. Ryan Martin kept the Whitecaps’ mini-explosion going with an RBI base knock of his own. Two earned runs on Foster later, and the Anglers were looking at one of the more insurmountable two-run deficits you’ll ever see.

Entering the seventh inning Wednesday, Chatham had gone the previous 17 frames without scoring a single run. Its last tally occurred in the sixth inning of its 11-8 win over Falmouth on Sunday, which came courtesy of Mendoza crossing home plate.

Following Wednesday’s conclusion, the A’s are scoreless in each of their last 19 offensive half-innings. And it’s been 20 frames since a currently-rostered Chatham player scored.