The Harwich Mariners traveled to Chatham Friday night for their first meeting of the season against the Anglers. It was a primetime East Division matchup at Veterans Field. Harwich has solidified themselves as one of the top teams in the Cape through the first two weeks of the season. Chatham started the season slow but still have a positive run differential despite having a 4-5-1 record.
Trey Williford got the start from manager Steve Englert, his third start of the season. Williford entered the game only holding opponents to a .121 batting average. Williford also was tied for third in the league with strikeouts (13). Chatham attacked Williford in the bottom of the fifth to earn five of their six runs. Williford ended the night with 4.1 innings pitched, two hits, four earned runs, and six strikeouts.
The Mariners faced the most talented pitcher so far in Duke Stone. Stone pitched 80 innings for Mississippi State this season and broke triple digit strikeouts with 107. Stone began his Cape campaign with a 1-2-3 inning and struck out two Mariners.
Strong pitching performances from Stone and Williford caused a stalemate for the first four innings until Jackson Hotchkiss came to the plate with two runners on base. Hotchkiss pushed a high fastball from Stone that sliced into right field and left the yard. The Anglers’ field is only a 314-foot fence to right field which favors an opposite field fly ball for right-handed hitters.
Williford went four innings without allowing a hit tonight. The Anglers finally got on the board in the top of the fifth inning. After an infield single by Chatham's Kelvyn Paulino Jr. WIlliford's no-hitter was erased. The Anglers were able to get the bats going big time in the bottom of the fifth. A five-run inning gave the Anglers a two run lead.
Despite Harwich having more total hits than Chatham, the Anglers were able to hold onto their lead in the final four innings to ultimately win 6-3, and be the third team in The Cape to hand the Mariners a loss.
Coach Englert knows that giving the opponents free bases can sometimes be the difference. "They capitalized on it. They had a couple of seeing-eye singles, but credit to them. They did their job, they took advantage of the free 90s, and we gave it right back. We had that big inning in the fifth, but that's what got us."
College Reunion
Stone got to pitch against his college teammate in Mariners, Chone James. Stone faced James twice tonight, striking him out once and allowing a single during James’ second at-bat. The Bulldogs made a great run in this past NCAA baseball tournament ultimately falling to the University of Georgia in the Athens Super Regional.
"It's always fun. We talked a little trash before the game, but it's always fun to face a guy you've played with before and who was your teammate. It's good competition. He's a good pitcher, and he had good stuff tonight," said James.
