Chatham Arms Shut Down Braves

By: Jacob Janower

The offenses were a no show at Veterans Field on Sunday as the Chatham Anglers took down the Bourne Braves 2-0.

With the win, Bourne (15-14) concluded the season series having won just one of four games against the Anglers (14-15).

Chatham scored the first run of the game on a double play in the first inning, and from then on, Braves (15-14) starting pitcher Daniel Bies (Gonzaga) went toe-to-toe with Austin Bergner (North Carolina) of the Anglers.

Bergner looked Max Scherzer-esque at times on the mound, racking up a season high eight strikeouts in five and a 1/3 innings.

He surrendered two hits in the first inning, but the Braves did not threaten again until the sixth inning, when a single and two errors allowed them to load the bases, but reliever Adam Wolf (Louisville) retired the next two hitters to eradicate the runners on base.

Fabian Pena (Manhattan) belted a solo home run for the Anglers’ second run of the game.

Bies Overcomes Rough First Inning

It seems as if the theme for Bies as of late has been some struggles in the opening frame, followed by smooth sailing the rest of the way through. Sunday was no different.

He walked two hitters and allowed three hits in the first inning, but surrendered just three baserunners and no earned runs in his final four turns against the Anglers, picking up a tough luck loss.

Wall Climbing

In the bottom of the sixth, Andy Atwood (Oregon State) made not only possibly the best defensive play of the Braves season but also one that could down among the best in the 2017 CCBL season.

With Bryan Hoeing (Louisville) on the mound, Atwood scaled the center field fence to rob Shea Langliers (Baylor) of a home run. Not only did he make the catch, but he was able to hold on despite falling over the wall.

Regardless if the catch gets featured on the SportsCenter Top Ten Plays, it was most definitely a career highlight for Atwood.

“Off the bat, I knew it was hit really well so it was going to be in the gap,” Atwood said with a smile. “I started running back at that point and I didn’t know if I was going to make the catch or get close or what was going to happen. I didn’t think it was going to be a home run, but I’m just running back and I hear Richie (Palacios) say ‘jump, jump.’ I jumped, stuck my glove up, and somehow the ball ended up in my glove.”

Stat That Mattered

The Braves struck out more times-14-than they have in any other nine inning game this season.

Brave of the Game

Not only did Atwood make a highlight reel catch, but he also reached base all three times he came to the plate. He hit two singles and drew a walk.

Hitting in the nine spot in the order, he was able to more aggressive than he would have had he been slotted elsewhere in the lineup.

“I know I’m going to get fastballs, they are not going to want to fall behind to me,” Atwood said. “Just be aggressive in the zone and square balls up.”

Coming Up: The Braves have just one game left before their next off day, a road matchup against the second-place Cotuit Kettleers. Cotuit has taken two of the first three games in the season series.