The annual Fourth of July series between Chatham and Orleans did not disappoint.
After the Anglers won 8-7 on a walk-off in Wednesday’s game, they held off a Firebirds rally for another 8-7 win on the Fourth in front of a packed house at Eldredge Park.
#FillTheHill pic.twitter.com/RKcWpUODPl
— Orleans Firebirds (@FirebirdsCCBL) July 4, 2019
Kaden Polcovich (Northwest Florida) hit his third home run of the summer, while Ben Ramirez (USC) and Tyler Doanes (West Virginia) drove in two runs each to lead the Chatham attack.
Cole Ayers (Kentucky) struck out six and allowed one run in five innings before Orleans started to make a move. Trailing 8-1, the Firebirds scored two runs in the eighth and four in the ninth, but with the tying run at third, Jorge Arenas (Stetson) finished the game with a strikeout.
The sweep of the holiday series moves Chatham above Orleans in the standings and into a tie with Y-D for first place. Orleans is now in second, a point back.
Y-D 9, Hyannis 7
Y-D out-slugged Hyannis in a darkness-shortened, seven-inning game. Wyatt Young (Pepperdine) went 3-for-5 and pushed his league-best average up to .400. Brad Beesley (Cal Poly) homered, while Austin Wells (Arizona) and Jack-Thomas Wold (UNLV) drove in two runs apiece. Ledgend Smith (Oklahoma) pitched the final two thirds of an inning and was credited with a win. Hunter Goodman (Memphis) hit his third homer for Hyannis. Auburn star Edouard Julien had a hit for the second straight day since joining the team. The struggle continues for the Harbor Hawks, who fell to 3-15-1.
Falmouth 4, Cotuit 1
Falmouth didn’t outscore the Kettleers by as much as they out-hit them (13-4), but they scored enough for their third straight victory. Blake Dunn (Western Michigan) went 4-for-5 and Trei Cruz (Rice) continued a hot streak with a 3-for-5, two RBI day. He’s 7 for his last 12. Tim Tawa (Stanford) added two hits and an RBI. Samuel Strickland (Samford) allowed one run in six innings and struck out two before scoreless relief work from Caleb Wurster (UConn) and Thomas Girard (Duke).
Harwich 6, Brewster 4
Antonio Menendez (Wake Forest) struck out eight in six innings to out-duel league ERA and wins leader Mason Black (Lehigh). The Harwich offense touched Black up for two runs in the first inning and tacked on two more in the middle innings. Christian Fedko (UConn) went 2-for-3 with four RBI. Daniel Cabrera (LSU) added two hits and an RBI. After Brewster came back to tie the game in the seventh inning, Fedko delivered a two-run single to give Harwich the lead for good. Tyler Hardman (Oklahoma) was a one-man show for Brewster, hitting two home runs and driving in all four of the team’s runs.
What to Watch
SHould be a good pitching matchup when Orleans and Wareham get together at Spillane Field. Owen Sharts (Nevada) has a 0.84 ERA for the Firebirds. Ian Bedell (Missouri) hasn’t allowed a run in 14.2 innings for Wareham.