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Game 18 Preview: Chatham vs. Orleans
CHATHAM, Mass. — There aren’t too many things more patriotic than baseball on the Fourth of July. Especially when the home team is wearing red, white and blue.
That’ll be the scene at Veterans Field Saturday evening when Chatham takes on Orleans. The A’s are coming off a heartbreaker at Eldredge Park Friday, when they were walked off by the Firebirds, but they don’t have to wait long for revenge.
Chatham takes on Orleans Saturday, looking for their second win in their past five games.
The Anglers will have their ace on the hill for the occasion Saturday. Angel Cervantes (UCLA) is set to make his third start of the campaign and first since June 23 for Chatham. The right-hander still hasn’t allowed a run through 9.2 innings of work, has struck out 12 and has only allowed four hits. All of those came in his start against Bourne on Jun 23, as he no-hit first-place Yarmouth-Dennis through five innings in his first start on June 16.
Orleans will also have one of its best arms up on Saturday, as LJ Cormier (Auburn) will get the ball for the Firebirds. Cormier has also made two starts thus far, and — like Cervantes — hasn’t allowed a run in those two outings. The righty has pitched just seven innings, but has allowed just three hits and struck out 12. All 21 of Cormier’s appearances at Auburn this year came in relief. In those outings, he amassed a 2.50 earned run average and 63 strikeouts.
Dominic Cadiz (UCLA) gave Chatham all kinds of trouble on Friday, crushing a two-run home run in the first inning and finishing the evening 6-for-6. It brought Cadiz to a .348 average and .852 OPS with two home runs and 13 RBIs on the campaign.
Rowan Kelly (UC Santa Barbara) was all over the Anglers pitching staff on Friday as well, knocking three singles in the first four innings. He’s also been hotter than ever over the past week, with an OPS over 1.300. It’s brought him to a team-high .357 average and 1.026 OPS. He’ll look to stay hot on Saturday, although it won’t be an easy task against Cervantes.
Chatham’s offense got off to a slow start Friday, but Ty Peeples (Florida State) gave the Anglers offense a jolt with a solo home run to right. The outfielder arrived in Chatham about a week ago, but he’s already been a steady presence in the lineup since arriving. He started just one game for Georgia in 2025 and didn’t hit a home run. Look for his summer with the Anglers to serve as a potential breakout campaign.
Another new signee has also been finding his form for the A’s in Armani Guzman (West Virginia). The speedy utility man went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in his Chatham debut a week ago, but he’s since reached base at least three times in three of his last four games. He’s a threat on the basepaths, too, and stole 42 bases with the Mountaineers this year.
Chatham manager Dennis Cook has often said he wants his pitchers — especially his relievers — to just throw strikes. But on Friday, they may have done that a bit too well.
The A’s conceded 21 hits, a season-high for any CCBL team in a single game. It’s the fourth consecutive game Chatham has allowed 10 or more hits. And against an Orleans squad that ranks last in the East Division, the Anglers can’t afford to allow too many runners on base.
You don’t have to go too far back to find the last time these teams played. It was yesterday.
It was also a matchup riddled with madness. Orleans dominated the entire game, led by a CCBL single-game season high of 21 hits. The Firebirds led by five entering the ninth inning.
That’s when Chatham gave them a run for their money. The A’s bats woke up to the tune of five runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game.
That was the extent of the Anglers’ luck, though. Cadiz knocked an RBI single up the middle to walk off the A’s in the bottom of the ninth, taking the first game of a brief two-game set.
That’ll be the scene at Veterans Field Saturday evening when Chatham takes on Orleans. The A’s are coming off a heartbreaker at Eldredge Park Friday, when they were walked off by the Firebirds, but they don’t have to wait long for revenge.
Chatham takes on Orleans Saturday, looking for their second win in their past five games.
Probable Starters
The Anglers will have their ace on the hill for the occasion Saturday. Angel Cervantes (UCLA) is set to make his third start of the campaign and first since June 23 for Chatham. The right-hander still hasn’t allowed a run through 9.2 innings of work, has struck out 12 and has only allowed four hits. All of those came in his start against Bourne on Jun 23, as he no-hit first-place Yarmouth-Dennis through five innings in his first start on June 16.
Orleans will also have one of its best arms up on Saturday, as LJ Cormier (Auburn) will get the ball for the Firebirds. Cormier has also made two starts thus far, and — like Cervantes — hasn’t allowed a run in those two outings. The righty has pitched just seven innings, but has allowed just three hits and struck out 12. All 21 of Cormier’s appearances at Auburn this year came in relief. In those outings, he amassed a 2.50 earned run average and 63 strikeouts.
Orleans Players To Watch
Dominic Cadiz (UCLA) gave Chatham all kinds of trouble on Friday, crushing a two-run home run in the first inning and finishing the evening 6-for-6. It brought Cadiz to a .348 average and .852 OPS with two home runs and 13 RBIs on the campaign.
Rowan Kelly (UC Santa Barbara) was all over the Anglers pitching staff on Friday as well, knocking three singles in the first four innings. He’s also been hotter than ever over the past week, with an OPS over 1.300. It’s brought him to a team-high .357 average and 1.026 OPS. He’ll look to stay hot on Saturday, although it won’t be an easy task against Cervantes.
Chatham Players To Watch
Chatham’s offense got off to a slow start Friday, but Ty Peeples (Florida State) gave the Anglers offense a jolt with a solo home run to right. The outfielder arrived in Chatham about a week ago, but he’s already been a steady presence in the lineup since arriving. He started just one game for Georgia in 2025 and didn’t hit a home run. Look for his summer with the Anglers to serve as a potential breakout campaign.
Another new signee has also been finding his form for the A’s in Armani Guzman (West Virginia). The speedy utility man went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in his Chatham debut a week ago, but he’s since reached base at least three times in three of his last four games. He’s a threat on the basepaths, too, and stole 42 bases with the Mountaineers this year.
Number To Know: 21
Chatham manager Dennis Cook has often said he wants his pitchers — especially his relievers — to just throw strikes. But on Friday, they may have done that a bit too well.
The A’s conceded 21 hits, a season-high for any CCBL team in a single game. It’s the fourth consecutive game Chatham has allowed 10 or more hits. And against an Orleans squad that ranks last in the East Division, the Anglers can’t afford to allow too many runners on base.
Last Time They Played
You don’t have to go too far back to find the last time these teams played. It was yesterday.
It was also a matchup riddled with madness. Orleans dominated the entire game, led by a CCBL single-game season high of 21 hits. The Firebirds led by five entering the ninth inning.
That’s when Chatham gave them a run for their money. The A’s bats woke up to the tune of five runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game.
That was the extent of the Anglers’ luck, though. Cadiz knocked an RBI single up the middle to walk off the A’s in the bottom of the ninth, taking the first game of a brief two-game set.
