Despite a shortened matchup due to thunder and lighting, there was one Firebirds player who led the charge in defeating the Anglers—Cashel Dugger.

Dugger (UCLA) delivered, notching one home run, one RBI and two runs.

Coming off a three-game rut, the Birds needed a win—rapidly.

“We need to pitch better, defend better, swing the bat better, run the bases better, we need to coach better, and in all phases we need to get better,” manager Kelly Nicholson said after last night’s loss to Bourne.

And Orleans had something to prove against an Anglers' squad that defeated the Brewster Whitecaps 10–6 the night before.

The Birds achieved just that in the five-inning Rivalry Game at Veterans Field, ending the Anglers’ two-game winning streak with a 4–0 shutout.

The weather didn’t faze Orleans, as the Birds made a dent early enough within the matchup to silence the Anglers’ bats and hopes of a comeback.

However, Chatham didn’t make it easy.

The Anglers starting pitcher was Nate Taylor (Georgia). Taylor's 0.72 WHIP and .115 opponent batting average ranks him third among all pitchers in the league.

After playing at the Cape League’s inaugural game at Citi Field, Taylor wasn’t going to let Chatham go down without a fight.

Taylor ended the top of the first by holding Orleans to a 1–2–3 inning, quickly sending Anthony Potestio (UC San Diego), Michael O’Shaughnessy (Georgia), and Elijah Ickes (Hawaii) back to the dugout.

Making his debut for Orleans, JT Raab (Georgia) started on the mound for the Birds.

Following both Henry Ford (Virginia) and Gavin Gallaher (North Carolina) outs, Ethan Mendoza (Texas) nailed a single on a ground ball to center field. But the Anglers were unable to convert, as Raab delivered a Chase Fralick (Auburn) strikeout to end the inning and keep the score 0–0.

In the top of the second, Orleans was unable to get much going, as the only thing that the Birds could piece together was a Luke Nixon (NC State) walk after being hit by a pitch.

Nothing seemed to change either for Chatham either in the bottom of the second, as Raab and company held the Anglers scoreless for another frame.

It wasn’t until the top of the third when everything changed for the Birds, thanks to Dugger. Locking eyes with Taylor, Dugger winded up and made contact with the ball—sailing a homer over the heads of the outfielders, past the fence, and onto the lawn flooded with Anglers fans.

With a 1–0 edge, that ignited a flame within the Orleans’ offense.

A Postestio walk and O’Shaughnessy single put Robbie Lavey (George Washington) in prime position to extend the Birds’ lead to two runs.

Singling on a line drive to left field, Lavey did just that, bringing Potestio home on the play.

Even with a chance to respond in the bottom of the third, the Anglers were unable to capitalize on the opportunity.

Instead, Orleans did the next inning.

Josh Swink (Liberty) replaced Taylor, as Nixon stepped up to bat. While Nixon didn’t get on base for the Birds, Ryan Kucherak (Northwestern) reached first off a walk.

Dugger wasn’t done quite yet, though. Doubling on a sharp line drive to left field, Dugger fueled the flame for the Firebirds.

Jaden Bastian (Florida) was next, reaching on a fielder’s choice that scored Kucherak and brought Orleans’ lead to three.

The last run of the matchup was scored off a Postestio single that brought Dugger home, earning the Birds’ a 4–0 dominance.

With the impending rain and thunder, the clock ticked down as Chatham’s chances for scoring became more limited.

Thankfully, for the Birds, that moment never happened as Ethan Foley (California) ended the bottom of the fifth with a 1–2–3 inning, keeping the bats of the Anglers cold.

In tomorrow night’s Fourth of July rematch, the Anglers will look to tell a different story in front of a packed Eldredge Park.

All eyes will be on the Birds.