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2017 ANGLERS SEASON REVIEW & SEASON PREVIEW 2018

he 2017 Chatham Anglers season will be remembered as The upcoming 2018 season brings a new era to Chatham
long-time manager John Schiffner’s farewell season. In Anglers baseball. Tom Holliday, with a long pedigree of Division
This 25th and final summer as Chatham’s skipper, Schiffner 1 college baseball coaching experience that includes stints at
guided the Anglers to a 21-23 record, finishing fourth in the East Oklahoma State, Texas, Auburn, and North Carolina State will
Division. The season concluded with a first-round playoff series arrive to lead the Anglers and he brings with him a seasoned
loss to top-seed Orleans. Schiffner was graciously honored with assistant coaching staff, including at least two former major
thanks and recognition by all 10 teams throughout the year. league players.

Many Chatham players starred in Schiffner’s final season with The 2018 Anglers expect a few familiar faces to return,
Johnny Aiello (Wake Forest) and Mason Koppens (Northeastern), including Shea Langeliers (Baylor), Ashton McGee (UNC),
two returning players from the 2016 Anglers, leading the team Jeff Belge (St. Johns), and Andre Pallante (UC-Irvine). To
in batting average. Aiello hit .306 in an abbreviated season (he augment the returning players Coach Holliday has assembled
was with Team USA prior to joining the Anglers) and Koppens a highly talented group of new players to wear the Angler
hit .304. Catcher Shea Langeliers (Baylor) took the Cape by blue pinstripes. Many of these players are coming from the
storm, finishing fifth in the league with six home runs. top baseball programs in the country. Offensively Mike Busch
(UNC), Tristin English (Georgia Tech), Nick Kahle (Washington),
Chatham’s pitching staff was again strong. Austin Bergner
(UNC) developed into Chatham’s ace, finishing with a stellar John Rave (Illinois State), and Freddy Zamora (Miami) are all
1.16 ERA in six starts. In the bullpen, Jack DeGroat (Liberty), batting over .300 near the end of their college seasons. On the
Rodney Hutchison Jr. (UNC), and Andre Pallante (UC-Irvine) mound the Anglers will be bringing in several strong starting
all finished with ERA’s under 2.00. DeGroat did not allow a run pitchers including Cody Bradford (Baylor), John Doxakis (Texas
in 14 relief innings across 11 appearances, while Hutchison A&M), Jon Heasley (Oklahoma State), and Colin Peluse (Wake
surrendered just two runs across 25 innings. Bergner, Adam Forest). The bullpen is also expected to be strong, with Nick
Wolf (Louisville), and DeGroat were at their best in Chatham’s Scheidler (UCLA), Zach King (Vanderbilt), and Alek Manoah
memorable 3-1 East Division Series playoff victory over Orleans (West Virginia) having strong relief statistics in their respective
in front of 4,689 fans at Veterans Field. The excellent summer college seasons.
seasons of DeGroat, Langeliers, second baseman Josh Shaw Bottom line, the coaches are ready, the players have been
(St. John’s), shortstop Jeremy Pena (Maine), and outfielder carefully selected, and now it’s time to watch the 2018 season
Jacob Olson (South Carolina) resulted in all being selected to unfold. It is sure to be full of excitement, joy, and maybe a
represent Chatham in the 2018 CCBL All-Star game. few tears. We hope it provides you with enjoyable summer
entertainment!

12 2018 CHATHAM ANGLERS YEARBOOK