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Game 26 Preview: Chatham at Orleans
CHATHAM, Mass. — The last time the Anglers faced off against Orleans, they held a slim one-point lead over the Firebirds in the standings, clinging on to playoff position by a thread.
But in a fog-shortened contest, Chatham ended up losing the game — and playoff position — by getting outscored 5-2 by Orleans. With the win, the Firebirds claimed a slim one-point lead over the A’s for fourth place in the East, leaving the A’s on the outside looking in.
Just two games have passed since then, yet as the Anglers make the trek to Eldredge Park to take on Orleans Wednesday, the two could not be in more opposite trajectories. The Anglers enter the contest fresh off a deflating 4-2 extra-innings home loss to Cotuit. Meanwhile, the Firebirds enter the matchup on a four-game win streak, having extended their lead over Chatham to three points.
Here’s a preview on both sides before Chatham (10-12-3, East) takes on Orleans (12-11-2, East), with the Anglers having a golden opportunity to loosen the Firebirds’ stranglehold on fourth-place in the division.
Probable Starters
While Luke Jackson (Dallas Baptist) was due to start for Chatham against Orleans, his 11th round selection in the MLB Draft threw a wrench into those plans. Now, Gavyn Jones (Oklahoma) will be taking the ball for the Anglers in his first start of the season. While his 8.31 earned run average through 4.1 innings doesn’t blow anyone’s socks off, he impressed with a scoreless ninth inning to close out Chatham’s 7-2 win over Yarmouth-Dennis on July 13.
Jake Bean (Kent State) will take the mound for Orleans. He’s an inexperienced Cape League arm, tallying just one inning of work thus far in his debut summer with the Firebirds. Bean allowed one earned run in a relief appearance, giving up two hits and not issuing a strikeout. For an Anglers’ team boasting a solid base of day-one-rostered players, their experience could be key in punishing Bean early.
Elijah Ickes (Hawaii) and Michael O’Shaughnessy (Davidson) have garnered the most plaudits among the Firebirds thus far, leading the Firebirds in OPS and runs, respectively. However, Robbie Lavey (George Washington) has sneakily established himself as a consistent presence in the Firebirds’ lineup as well. The Orleans left fielder is tied for first on the team with 23 hits, and he currently leads the Firebirds in runs batted in (16) and batting average (.329).
Across the outfield, right fielder Anthony Potestio (UC San Diego) has quickly established himself as a star for the Firebirds. He is one of three Orleans players with double-digits tallies in both runs (12) and hits (15). The other two — Ickes and O’Shaugnessy — have played 22 and 21 games, respectively, significantly higher than Potestio’s 13 appearances for Orleans thus far.
The Anglers didn’t start Daniel Jackson (Georgia) in their loss to Cotuit, but it’s almost a certainty that he will be making his return to the lineup against Orleans Wednesday. There are few Chatham hitters who are more important to the A’s offense than Jackson. Right now, he leads the Anglers with a .467 on-base percentage and a .915 OPS, and it’s no coincidence that his lone rest day coincided with a Chatham loss.
Though Reed Stallman (Mississippi State) might be just as indispensable at this point. The first baseman has only been in Chatham for three games, but he has not missed a beat in time with the A’s, mashing baseball to the tune of a 1.667 OPS in his seven at bats thus far. He’s already drawn five walks compared to just three strikeouts, and against Cotuit, he singlehandedly put the Anglers on the board with a solo blast into right for his first homer this summer.
Prior to the last time he faced Orleans, Jake Hanley’s (Indiana) OPS sat below .700. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year had begun to escape his early-season slump, but he still hadn’t been able to break through just yet.
But everything can change in three games. Now, Hanley’s OPS sits at .795, a mark that places him 13th among qualified Cape Cod Baseball League hitters. It took him 25 games, but Hanley is finally establishing himself in the upper echelon of the CCBL.
When Orleans came to Veterans Field on July 12, the Anglers didn’t manage to get a full nine in. Heavy fog descended over Chatham’s home field as the fifth inning dragged on, and once both sides emerged for the top of the sixth, the umpires decided to issue a fog delay, ruling the game final soon after. Though the Anglers attempted to rally in the bottom of the fifth, their efforts weren’t enough to prevent a 5-2 loss.
But in a fog-shortened contest, Chatham ended up losing the game — and playoff position — by getting outscored 5-2 by Orleans. With the win, the Firebirds claimed a slim one-point lead over the A’s for fourth place in the East, leaving the A’s on the outside looking in.
Just two games have passed since then, yet as the Anglers make the trek to Eldredge Park to take on Orleans Wednesday, the two could not be in more opposite trajectories. The Anglers enter the contest fresh off a deflating 4-2 extra-innings home loss to Cotuit. Meanwhile, the Firebirds enter the matchup on a four-game win streak, having extended their lead over Chatham to three points.
Here’s a preview on both sides before Chatham (10-12-3, East) takes on Orleans (12-11-2, East), with the Anglers having a golden opportunity to loosen the Firebirds’ stranglehold on fourth-place in the division.
Probable Starters
While Luke Jackson (Dallas Baptist) was due to start for Chatham against Orleans, his 11th round selection in the MLB Draft threw a wrench into those plans. Now, Gavyn Jones (Oklahoma) will be taking the ball for the Anglers in his first start of the season. While his 8.31 earned run average through 4.1 innings doesn’t blow anyone’s socks off, he impressed with a scoreless ninth inning to close out Chatham’s 7-2 win over Yarmouth-Dennis on July 13.
Jake Bean (Kent State) will take the mound for Orleans. He’s an inexperienced Cape League arm, tallying just one inning of work thus far in his debut summer with the Firebirds. Bean allowed one earned run in a relief appearance, giving up two hits and not issuing a strikeout. For an Anglers’ team boasting a solid base of day-one-rostered players, their experience could be key in punishing Bean early.
Orleans Players To Watch
Elijah Ickes (Hawaii) and Michael O’Shaughnessy (Davidson) have garnered the most plaudits among the Firebirds thus far, leading the Firebirds in OPS and runs, respectively. However, Robbie Lavey (George Washington) has sneakily established himself as a consistent presence in the Firebirds’ lineup as well. The Orleans left fielder is tied for first on the team with 23 hits, and he currently leads the Firebirds in runs batted in (16) and batting average (.329).
Across the outfield, right fielder Anthony Potestio (UC San Diego) has quickly established himself as a star for the Firebirds. He is one of three Orleans players with double-digits tallies in both runs (12) and hits (15). The other two — Ickes and O’Shaugnessy — have played 22 and 21 games, respectively, significantly higher than Potestio’s 13 appearances for Orleans thus far.
Chatham Players To Watch
The Anglers didn’t start Daniel Jackson (Georgia) in their loss to Cotuit, but it’s almost a certainty that he will be making his return to the lineup against Orleans Wednesday. There are few Chatham hitters who are more important to the A’s offense than Jackson. Right now, he leads the Anglers with a .467 on-base percentage and a .915 OPS, and it’s no coincidence that his lone rest day coincided with a Chatham loss.
Though Reed Stallman (Mississippi State) might be just as indispensable at this point. The first baseman has only been in Chatham for three games, but he has not missed a beat in time with the A’s, mashing baseball to the tune of a 1.667 OPS in his seven at bats thus far. He’s already drawn five walks compared to just three strikeouts, and against Cotuit, he singlehandedly put the Anglers on the board with a solo blast into right for his first homer this summer.
Number To Know: 13
Prior to the last time he faced Orleans, Jake Hanley’s (Indiana) OPS sat below .700. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year had begun to escape his early-season slump, but he still hadn’t been able to break through just yet.
But everything can change in three games. Now, Hanley’s OPS sits at .795, a mark that places him 13th among qualified Cape Cod Baseball League hitters. It took him 25 games, but Hanley is finally establishing himself in the upper echelon of the CCBL.
Last Time They Played
When Orleans came to Veterans Field on July 12, the Anglers didn’t manage to get a full nine in. Heavy fog descended over Chatham’s home field as the fifth inning dragged on, and once both sides emerged for the top of the sixth, the umpires decided to issue a fog delay, ruling the game final soon after. Though the Anglers attempted to rally in the bottom of the fifth, their efforts weren’t enough to prevent a 5-2 loss.
