The Chatham Anglers traveled to Harwich Saturday night to face the Mariners. The Mariners lost their last three games coming into the East Division duel. Harwich was coming off a 4-3 loss to the Hyannis Harbor Hawks Friday night where the Mariners were not able to pull off the comeback.

Jakob Schulz was the starter for the Mariners tonight. Schulz came into the game trying to improve on his start on the Fourth of July, where he only made it 2 ⅔ innings as well as giving up five runs.

Chatham struck first in the top of the first inning when Bino Watters stole home on a wild pitch. Watters only reached base after hitting into a fielder's choice. Chatham would lead 1-0 after the first inning without scoring a hit.

Schulz hit his stride through the middle innings of the Saturday night baseball duel. The left-handed pitcher in the top of the fourth inning struck out the leadoff batter for his sixth strikeout in a row in the game.

"It's great. You get in the zone early and put yourself in a good position with two strikes. I like pitching when I'm ahead in the count, so as long as I'm ahead, I feel good," said Schulz.

In the top of the fifth inning with a runner on second, Chatham’s Everett Marshal hit a fly ball to center field. Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe caught the ball and then quickly fired it to third base to get out the tagging runner. The perfect throw was able to complete the double play and ruin a probable Anglers run.

Schulz had a no-hitter for the Mariners today. Schulz ended his night going five innings with ten strikeouts. Only four Anglers reached base during Schulz’s outing via walk.

TJ Ziermann entered the game in the top of the sixth inning after Schulz walked the first two batters. Ziermann went three up, three down striking all three Anglers to keep the Mariners within one run.

Ziermann pitched the next four innings of the game keeping the no-hitter alive. Ziermann finished four innings with seven strikeouts. The only Anglers to reach base were the five batters Ziermann walked.

"I was trusting in my defense, too. I struck some guys out early, but I was really just trying to pitch to contact and get a ground ball. We had first and second when I came in, so I just trusted my guys and wasn't scared of guys hitting the ball. We had a no-hitter going, but I wasn't worried about giving up a hit. I just wanted to let the defense work," said Ziermann.

Almost History...

The Mariners walked into the bottom of the ninth inning trailing Chatham 1-0. The wild pitch in the first inning was the only run for both teams the entire night.

Jackson Hotchkiss was the leadoff batter for the Mariners and after a four-pitch walk, Hotchkiss was the tying run on first base. A JP Peltier strikeout would put the Anglers two outs away from being the first team in Cape Cod League history to win a game without recording a hit.

Kevin Milewski stepped to the plate with Hotchkiss on second after a wild pitch. Milewski would be late on a fastball causing his bat to break but instead of a soft hit ball, the Chatham's left fielder was charging at a fly ball in shallow left field.

Hotchkiss hustled around the bases and slid home to tie the game. The Mariners nightmare no-hitter was extinguished.

Extra Innings

Harwich's Thomas Mitchell came into the game in the top of the tenth to keep the no-hitter alive. Chatham's Rob Rispoli would break Mariners fan’s hearts by ending the no-hitter with a single to shortstop.

The Anglers regained the lead after a chaotic bases-loaded ground ball. Naulivou Lauaki Jr. hit a grounder to shortstop Tyler Smolinski, who started a defensive sequence by flipping the ball to Cade Kurland at second. Kurland was taken out by Rob Rispoli's hard slide but still managed to get the throw to first baseman JP Peltier for the second out. Peltier then fired home to catcher Chone James, who tagged out Kaiden Dossa trying to score.

Drey Barrett crossed the plate before the tag, giving Chatham a 2-1 lead despite Harwich recording three outs on the play.

The Mariners entered the bottom of the tenth needing a miracle to end their three game losing streak. Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe started on second base as an automatic runner for the Mariners in extra innings. Colin Larson led off the inning with a sacrifice bunt to move Rienstra-Kiracofe to third base.

After a Nate Castellon chopper barely clearing the Anglers’ shortstop the game was tied at 2-2.

Wild pitches by Wyatt Nadeau moved Castellon to third.

Jackson Hotchkiss stepped to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the tenth with the winning run in Castellon 90 feet away. After working the count to full, Hotchkiss was able to strike a ball to deep right-center field to walk off the Anglers.

It feels really good. There was only one thought going into that at-bat, and it was keeping myself relaxed. I was just trying to control what I could control and get my pitch. I took a couple of swings and misses, but I got it done at the end of the day, and that's all that matters," said Hotchkiss.

The Mariners snap their three-game losing streak with one of the most exciting games of Cape baseball you will ever see.

"There have been a lot, but that one was up there. It was definitely up there," Mariners coach Steve Englert said.

The Mariners pitching staff were able to be dominant all game long and when the offense was needed the most they came through.

"They did an outstanding job. We gave up one hit through 10 innings and had 17 strikeouts. Schulz was outstanding. He could've cut down on the walks a little bit, but they all came in, pitched out of jams and did a really good job," said Coach Englert.

The Mariners did throw the first no-hitter for nine innings since 2016.

What's Next?

The Mariners look to keep it going Sunday when they travel to Yarmouth-Dennis to face the 19-3-1 Red Sox.

First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.