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Chatham defeats Wareham 4-2 at home, climbs back above .500
CHATHAM, Mass. — The Anglers hadn’t experienced the feeling in a while. When Chatham took the field Thursday, returning to Veterans Field for the first time since the Fourth of July, it did so as owners of a two-game losing streak.
It was the A’s first multi-game losing streak since June 16, when they extended their season-opening skid to four with a 4-1 loss to Yarmouth-Dennis. Since then, the Anglers had made that sluggish start a distant memory, rattling off a couple of win streaks and alternating the few losses they had with wins.
That trend got bucked Wednesday at Doran Park, where Bourne handed Chatham a 9-2 loss. The A’s exited Fourth of July two games over .500, but they were dead even now. A defeat to Wareham would’ve given them a losing record, their first since June 24.
But Chatham (10-9-2, East) avoided that fate, securing its 10th win of the season at Veterans Field Thursday by defeating Wareham (5-16, West) 4-2. Jack Gleason (Mississippi State), in his second start of the summer, allowed just two runs to the Gatemen in 4.1 innings of work. His outing was complemented by a dominant relief showing from Terry Hayes Jr. (Ole Miss), who held Wareham scoreless in 4.1 innings of work.
Hayes, in particular, left a strong impression on Cook Thursday. At least, an impression strong enough to move him up to the rotation.
“Next week, he'll get a start,” Cook revealed postgame, referring to Hayes. “We got him stretched out tonight, so we feel comfortable starting him.”
Gleason began his last start, also against Wareham, with three shutout innings. He was just as sharp to start Thursday’s outing, working around a Levi Clark (Tennessee) double to hold the Gatemen scoreless in the first.
Payton Lee (Arkansas), Wareham’s starter, wasn’t as fortunate. He put runners on the corners with a leadoff walk to Rob Rispoli (UConn) and a single from Junior Lauaki (Georgia). Had the Gatemen turned a double play on Ty Peeples’ (Florida State) subsequent groundout, he could’ve left the inning without a run.
But Peeples beat the throw from second, and Rispoli crossed the plate to make it a 1-0 game.
And Gleason gave that advantage back up almost immediately. Coen Niclai (Arizona State) led off the second with a double into left, and he scored on Henry DiGiorgio’s (Northeastern) infield single, where Rispoli couldn’t get a throw off after making a diving stop.
But Lee’s best efforts couldn’t keep the game tied. He loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the frame, and Bino Watters (LSU) drove in two runners with a single into center.
The cut off throw got to Lee at the mound, and his throw could have beat Drey Barrett (Southern Mississippi) to the plate if it was on target. But, much like his pitches — through two innings, Lee threw 21 balls in 47 offerings — Lee’s throw was off the mark, and bounced the ball off of Niclai’s chest protector to allow Barrett to score uncontested.
Armed with two additional runs of support, Gleason’s third inning was much smoother. Clark singled, but that was the only baserunner he allowed in a scoreless third frame. Through three innings, he had struck out three batters without giving up a walk.
“I don't even remember his previous outing, to be honest with you,” Cook said postgame, referring to Gleason. “He was good tonight. He threw a lot of strikes, he mixed well.”
His fourth inning wasn’t as strong, though. Niclai entered Thursday tied for third in the Cape with three homers on the summer, and facing Gleason in the fourth, he moved himself into a tie for first by adding a fourth homer. Gleason exited an inning later after allowing Clark to reach a third time — this time with a walk. He was replaced by Hayes, and left with a 3-2 lead intact.
And it remained intact into the sixth. Hayes induced a groundout from Tony Lira (Arizona) upon his arrival, and got Jason Wachs (LSU) to strike out to leave Clark stranded on second. Once Hayes got to the sixth, he retired the side to preserve Chatham’s one-run lead.
The Anglers saw a rally die in the sixth, but it wasn’t a big deal. Hayes was just as dominant in the seventh, ensuring that Wareham wouldn’t even threaten the A’s lead. And in the bottom of the inning, Watters lined a single into right — his third hit of the game — to drive in Rispoli to give Chatham some insurance.
“He's a good player,” Cook said of Watters. “Anytime you can have good players in your lineup, you want to keep them around as long as you can.”
That was all the Anglers needed. Hayes allowed a single in the ninth, but Collins Black (NC State) relieved him and struck out Carter Groen (Pitt) to end the game. And with that, for the first time in three games, Chatham was back in the win column.
Postgame, as he stood near the Veterans Field dugout, fielding both autograph requests and questions, Cook was proud of the A’s effort in the win. But he’s never complacent. There’s always room for improvement.
“We did good tonight,” Cook said. “But we still aren't hitting with guys in scoring position.”
It was the A’s first multi-game losing streak since June 16, when they extended their season-opening skid to four with a 4-1 loss to Yarmouth-Dennis. Since then, the Anglers had made that sluggish start a distant memory, rattling off a couple of win streaks and alternating the few losses they had with wins.
That trend got bucked Wednesday at Doran Park, where Bourne handed Chatham a 9-2 loss. The A’s exited Fourth of July two games over .500, but they were dead even now. A defeat to Wareham would’ve given them a losing record, their first since June 24.
But Chatham (10-9-2, East) avoided that fate, securing its 10th win of the season at Veterans Field Thursday by defeating Wareham (5-16, West) 4-2. Jack Gleason (Mississippi State), in his second start of the summer, allowed just two runs to the Gatemen in 4.1 innings of work. His outing was complemented by a dominant relief showing from Terry Hayes Jr. (Ole Miss), who held Wareham scoreless in 4.1 innings of work.
Hayes, in particular, left a strong impression on Cook Thursday. At least, an impression strong enough to move him up to the rotation.
“Next week, he'll get a start,” Cook revealed postgame, referring to Hayes. “We got him stretched out tonight, so we feel comfortable starting him.”
Gleason began his last start, also against Wareham, with three shutout innings. He was just as sharp to start Thursday’s outing, working around a Levi Clark (Tennessee) double to hold the Gatemen scoreless in the first.
Payton Lee (Arkansas), Wareham’s starter, wasn’t as fortunate. He put runners on the corners with a leadoff walk to Rob Rispoli (UConn) and a single from Junior Lauaki (Georgia). Had the Gatemen turned a double play on Ty Peeples’ (Florida State) subsequent groundout, he could’ve left the inning without a run.
But Peeples beat the throw from second, and Rispoli crossed the plate to make it a 1-0 game.
And Gleason gave that advantage back up almost immediately. Coen Niclai (Arizona State) led off the second with a double into left, and he scored on Henry DiGiorgio’s (Northeastern) infield single, where Rispoli couldn’t get a throw off after making a diving stop.
But Lee’s best efforts couldn’t keep the game tied. He loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the frame, and Bino Watters (LSU) drove in two runners with a single into center.
The cut off throw got to Lee at the mound, and his throw could have beat Drey Barrett (Southern Mississippi) to the plate if it was on target. But, much like his pitches — through two innings, Lee threw 21 balls in 47 offerings — Lee’s throw was off the mark, and bounced the ball off of Niclai’s chest protector to allow Barrett to score uncontested.
Armed with two additional runs of support, Gleason’s third inning was much smoother. Clark singled, but that was the only baserunner he allowed in a scoreless third frame. Through three innings, he had struck out three batters without giving up a walk.
“I don't even remember his previous outing, to be honest with you,” Cook said postgame, referring to Gleason. “He was good tonight. He threw a lot of strikes, he mixed well.”
His fourth inning wasn’t as strong, though. Niclai entered Thursday tied for third in the Cape with three homers on the summer, and facing Gleason in the fourth, he moved himself into a tie for first by adding a fourth homer. Gleason exited an inning later after allowing Clark to reach a third time — this time with a walk. He was replaced by Hayes, and left with a 3-2 lead intact.
And it remained intact into the sixth. Hayes induced a groundout from Tony Lira (Arizona) upon his arrival, and got Jason Wachs (LSU) to strike out to leave Clark stranded on second. Once Hayes got to the sixth, he retired the side to preserve Chatham’s one-run lead.
The Anglers saw a rally die in the sixth, but it wasn’t a big deal. Hayes was just as dominant in the seventh, ensuring that Wareham wouldn’t even threaten the A’s lead. And in the bottom of the inning, Watters lined a single into right — his third hit of the game — to drive in Rispoli to give Chatham some insurance.
“He's a good player,” Cook said of Watters. “Anytime you can have good players in your lineup, you want to keep them around as long as you can.”
That was all the Anglers needed. Hayes allowed a single in the ninth, but Collins Black (NC State) relieved him and struck out Carter Groen (Pitt) to end the game. And with that, for the first time in three games, Chatham was back in the win column.
Postgame, as he stood near the Veterans Field dugout, fielding both autograph requests and questions, Cook was proud of the A’s effort in the win. But he’s never complacent. There’s always room for improvement.
“We did good tonight,” Cook said. “But we still aren't hitting with guys in scoring position.”
