For the upcoming 2024 Cape Cod Baseball League season, new managers will be at the helm of both the Chatham Anglers and Hyannis Harbor Hawks.
The East Division's Chatham Anglers will be managed by Jeremy Sheetinger, who was officially named their manager following the conclusion of the 2023 season. The Anglers will look to bounce back from a last place finish, having compiled a record of 15-27.
The West Division’s Harbor Hawks will be under the guidance of Mitch Karraker, who will also be assuming his first coaching role in the Cape League. Last season, the Harbor Hawks fell to the eventual champion Bourne Braves in the semifinals.
Sheetinger and Karraker both have extensive coaching experience and are prepared to bring a winning pedigree to their organizations.
Jeremy Sheetinger, or “Sheets” (pictured above) as called by many, began his coaching career in 2013 at Spalding University and is currently the current head coach for the Georgia Gwinnett College Grizzlies. In his three years there, he led the Grizzlies to three winning seasons, for a combined record of 86-43. His success at the collegiate level opened eyes across the country, and he moved into a role as the college division liaison for the American Baseball Coaches Association in 2016. During this time, Sheetinger also took on a role as an associate scout for the Atlanta Braves. In 2019, he took the head role at Georgia Gwinnett, where he is still at the helm.
In his first season (COVID shortened), Sheetinger’s Grizzlies went 23-2, and the program took off from there. He now has three 50+ win seasons (2021, 2023, 2024) under his belt at Georgia Gwinnett. In 2021, the Grizzlies won the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics World Series, the first in program history. Some other experience on Sheetinger’s résumé includes being the director of baseball operations at the Kentucky and an assistant coach at St. Joseph's.
When asked about the upcoming summer, Sheetinger says, “We are fired up to bring positive energy and passion back to Chatham as we rebuild the product on the field. This is about the players and we are focused on bringing great players and people to our community, and we look forward to serving these guys this summer.”
Speaking about what he brings to the Anglers, he says, “we hope to play fast and play hard. Our goal is to create an environment that gives our guys the platform to find the best versions of who they are, while competing in a fun and failure free atmosphere.” He ensures the growth of his players, and how his coaching staff will look to make Chatham a highlight stop in not just their playing careers, but their lives. Sheetinger’s accolades make him a more than qualified candidate to lead the Anglers back to a winning standard.
Mitch Karraker (pictured below), like Sheetinger, was named manager of the Harbor Hawks shortly after the 2023 season. Karraker, from Clovis, Calif., played baseball at Fresno City College before transferring to the University of Oregon. After his playing days, he moved into a coaching role at Oregon where he gained experience in numerous positions from 2011-19. In the following years, Karraker moved to Baylor, where he served as an assistant coach, Loyola Marymount as their hitting coach and finally to building his own regime at his alma-mater Fresno City College as head coach. At Fresno City, Karraker has won back-to-back Central Valley Conference Coach of the Year awards. While this is his first summer coaching on Cape Cod, Karraker has coached summer teams with the US National team and in the West Coast League.
As it relates to his coaching style, Karraker stresses the importance of balance. While players are here to develop their skills and win games, Karraker is keen on getting to know his players on a personal level and connect with them. In turn, it creates an environment that fosters success and sets his guys up to play with confidence.
Karraker, when asked about his coaching role this summer, says, “I am excited to be the new manager for the Harbor Hawks and compete in the premier summer baseball league in the country. Our goal is to win a league championship and give our players a great experience here in Cape Cod.”
He also expands upon how he hopes to see his players mature on and off the field, and says he’s looking forward to “providing them with the best opportunity to develop their skills as a baseball player and hopefully have memories and friendships when they leave that will last a lifetime.”
Both Sheetinger and Karraker will begin their 2024 campaigns on Saturday, June 15. The Anglers open on the road against the Wareham Gatemen, while the Harbor Hawks open at home versus the Falmouth Commodores. The Anglers and Harbor Hawks will square off for the first time this year on Tuesday, June 18 at McKeon Park in Hyannis at 6:00 PM.
(Photos via Danielle Stockwell)
