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Game 2 Preview: Chatham vs. Cotuit
CHATHAM, Mass. — The Chatham Anglers’ 2026 Opening Day looked eerily familiar to their 2025 one. That’s not really a good thing.
On both occasions, the A’s bats looked like they were still on summer vacation in losses to West Division foes. In 2025, Chatham tallied just two hits in a 1-0 loss to Falmouth. In 2026, the Anglers mustered two knocks in a 5-1 opening-night loss to reigning CCBL champion Bourne.
But of course, the growing pains are expected. After all, Dennis Cook’s Chatham squad has just one familiar face from last season. That lack of continuity isn’t a problem for teams like Bourne, which turned over nine players from last year. It takes time for teams to gel, and that’s all Cook can really hope to see from his squad in game two.
Chatham (0-1, East) looks to bounce back against Cotuit (1-0, West) in the A’s home opener. Here’s everything to know about the matchup.
Arkansas’ Colin Fisher is set to take the hill for the first time this season Sunday. The 6-foot-3 left-hander made 18 appearances for the Razorbacks in 2026, primarily as a starter. Fisher twirled a career-high 56.1 innings across 10 starts and pitched one complete game. His 5.59 earned run average and 4-7 record certainly weren’t optimal numbers, but his 58-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio suggests his control is a strength he can build off of.
“He just looks like a strike thrower,” Cook said after Chatham’s Saturday loss to Bourne. “And he's aggressive, and he's got great stuff.”
On the other end, Alex Sotiropolous will get the ball for Cotuit. The right-hander from Columbia pitched to a similar statline as Fisher, compiling a 6.59 ERA across 11 starts and 61.2 innings for the Lions this past spring. Sotiropolous struggled a bit more with his control, though, walking 39 batters while striking out 51.
The Kettleers kicked off the campaign with a 5-0 win Saturday. The deciding run came via a familiar face for Anglers’ fans. Jake Hanley, who played 35 games for Chatham last summer, knocked an RBI double in Cotuit’s opener and starred at Indiana this year. The 6-foot-6 infielder hit .355 with 14 home runs for the Hoosiers in 2026 before pledging to the Kettleers.
Beyond him, Tague Davis is the big name in the Kettleers’ lineup. The Louisville slugger mashed 34 home runs and hit .355 while driving in 98 runs — by far the most in the country — for the Cardinals this year. He’s one of the nation’s best hitters, and one of the most enticing prospects on the Cape this summer. Look for him to play a major role for Cotuit Sunday.
No position players really jumped off the stat sheet in the A’s season opener Saturday, but when you tally just two hits, that’s not really a surprise.
But Chatham did have a few potential offensive contributors. Rett Johnson scored the A’s only run of the night, and would’ve picked up a base knock if not for a leaping grab from Bourne’s Lee Ellis (Ohio State). Still, the Freshman All-American’s .381 average at NC State shows mouth-watering potential. Perhaps he can properly introduce himself on Sunday.
Texas Tech’s Connor Shouse was stuck in right field on Saturday, which came with some growing pains, as the natural infielder made a costly error in the first inning. At the plate, though, Shouse went 1-for-4 with an RBI single and a fly out that died just short of the fence. He totaled 66 RBIs for the Red Raiders this season and showed some comfortability at the plate on Opening Day. Look for Shouse to get rolling Sunday.
If you haven’t heard it enough yet, here you go again. Chatham tallied just two hits on opening night. You can’t really win baseball games when you don’t get runners on base. And it's even harder to win when you don’t put the ball in play.
The A’s struck out 13 times on Opening Day, and four players tallied multiple K’s on the night. Meanwhile, Chatham only worked three walks to pair with its two singles, leaving its offense with virtually nothing to work with.
That can’t be the case if Chatham wants to avoid an 0-2 start for the second straight year. The bats must wake up in order to pick up a win in the A’s home opener.
The Anglers took down Cotuit 6-4 when the squads last met on July 21, 2025. In its first game back from the All-Star break, Chatham pieced together 11 hits to steal a win on the road. Oklahoma’s Gavyn Jones got the start for the A’s, and he tossed five innings of one-run ball. He didn’t have much help from his offense initially, as Chatham hit just 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position.
When it mattered most, though, Texas’ Ashton Larson came through with a two-run single to give the A’s a lead they never squandered. Fortunately for Chatham, the game was called after eight innings due to darkness at Lowell Park.
On both occasions, the A’s bats looked like they were still on summer vacation in losses to West Division foes. In 2025, Chatham tallied just two hits in a 1-0 loss to Falmouth. In 2026, the Anglers mustered two knocks in a 5-1 opening-night loss to reigning CCBL champion Bourne.
But of course, the growing pains are expected. After all, Dennis Cook’s Chatham squad has just one familiar face from last season. That lack of continuity isn’t a problem for teams like Bourne, which turned over nine players from last year. It takes time for teams to gel, and that’s all Cook can really hope to see from his squad in game two.
Chatham (0-1, East) looks to bounce back against Cotuit (1-0, West) in the A’s home opener. Here’s everything to know about the matchup.
Probable Starters
Arkansas’ Colin Fisher is set to take the hill for the first time this season Sunday. The 6-foot-3 left-hander made 18 appearances for the Razorbacks in 2026, primarily as a starter. Fisher twirled a career-high 56.1 innings across 10 starts and pitched one complete game. His 5.59 earned run average and 4-7 record certainly weren’t optimal numbers, but his 58-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio suggests his control is a strength he can build off of.
“He just looks like a strike thrower,” Cook said after Chatham’s Saturday loss to Bourne. “And he's aggressive, and he's got great stuff.”
On the other end, Alex Sotiropolous will get the ball for Cotuit. The right-hander from Columbia pitched to a similar statline as Fisher, compiling a 6.59 ERA across 11 starts and 61.2 innings for the Lions this past spring. Sotiropolous struggled a bit more with his control, though, walking 39 batters while striking out 51.
Cotuit Players to Watch
The Kettleers kicked off the campaign with a 5-0 win Saturday. The deciding run came via a familiar face for Anglers’ fans. Jake Hanley, who played 35 games for Chatham last summer, knocked an RBI double in Cotuit’s opener and starred at Indiana this year. The 6-foot-6 infielder hit .355 with 14 home runs for the Hoosiers in 2026 before pledging to the Kettleers.
Beyond him, Tague Davis is the big name in the Kettleers’ lineup. The Louisville slugger mashed 34 home runs and hit .355 while driving in 98 runs — by far the most in the country — for the Cardinals this year. He’s one of the nation’s best hitters, and one of the most enticing prospects on the Cape this summer. Look for him to play a major role for Cotuit Sunday.
Chatham Players to Watch
No position players really jumped off the stat sheet in the A’s season opener Saturday, but when you tally just two hits, that’s not really a surprise.
But Chatham did have a few potential offensive contributors. Rett Johnson scored the A’s only run of the night, and would’ve picked up a base knock if not for a leaping grab from Bourne’s Lee Ellis (Ohio State). Still, the Freshman All-American’s .381 average at NC State shows mouth-watering potential. Perhaps he can properly introduce himself on Sunday.
Texas Tech’s Connor Shouse was stuck in right field on Saturday, which came with some growing pains, as the natural infielder made a costly error in the first inning. At the plate, though, Shouse went 1-for-4 with an RBI single and a fly out that died just short of the fence. He totaled 66 RBIs for the Red Raiders this season and showed some comfortability at the plate on Opening Day. Look for Shouse to get rolling Sunday.
Number to Know: 2
If you haven’t heard it enough yet, here you go again. Chatham tallied just two hits on opening night. You can’t really win baseball games when you don’t get runners on base. And it's even harder to win when you don’t put the ball in play.
The A’s struck out 13 times on Opening Day, and four players tallied multiple K’s on the night. Meanwhile, Chatham only worked three walks to pair with its two singles, leaving its offense with virtually nothing to work with.
That can’t be the case if Chatham wants to avoid an 0-2 start for the second straight year. The bats must wake up in order to pick up a win in the A’s home opener.
Last Time They Played:
The Anglers took down Cotuit 6-4 when the squads last met on July 21, 2025. In its first game back from the All-Star break, Chatham pieced together 11 hits to steal a win on the road. Oklahoma’s Gavyn Jones got the start for the A’s, and he tossed five innings of one-run ball. He didn’t have much help from his offense initially, as Chatham hit just 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position.
When it mattered most, though, Texas’ Ashton Larson came through with a two-run single to give the A’s a lead they never squandered. Fortunately for Chatham, the game was called after eight innings due to darkness at Lowell Park.
