SEASON IN REVIEW: CHATHAM BASEBALL

Greg Dedrick
ccSCOOP Sports Editor

07-02-09 -  The Chatham Panthers captured another Patroon Conference title this season after finishing off the regular season 18-0 in the league. In the league, the Panthers beat up on just about every opponent they played. In their 18 league victories, the Panthers won by more than five in every game but four. Among those wins were two thrilling victories over Hudson, including a come from behind seventh inning rally in Chatham.
 
The Panthers’ fantastic regular season was enough to earn them the top seed in the Section II Class B sectional tournament and a bye into the semifinals, where they squared off with Saratoga Catholic, a team coming in hot, off a come-from-behind win over Hudson. The normally potent Chatham offense was held in check, while the pitching staff couldn’t slow down Spa Catholic, and the Panthers season came to an end 12-4, at least one round earlier than most expected.
 
This year’s Chatham Panthers squad featured thirteen players, six of whom are seniors and will be lost to graduation. Among those seniors were Patroon Conference Most Valuable Player Brian Gauthier and Second Team All League picks Ryen Boehme and Parker Niles. Short stop Mike Sirani, another senior, was part of the Patroon Conference Exceptional Seniors game against the Central Hudson Valley League’s senior all-stars. The Panthers will also lose two other very important pieces in Cody Portin and Matt Fischer, who combined for 11 wins on the mound this season.
 
Gauthier was named the league M.V.P. for a reason and that was because of his dominance both on the mound, at the plate, and in the field for the Panthers this year. This season Gauthier accounted for 66 outs and 16 assists in the field while not committing a single error. On the mound Gauthier went 9-0 with three complete games and a 1.91 ERA. At the plate Gauthier hit .378 with a team leading 41 runs and 28 RBIs, while belting 4 home runs.
 
Along with Gauthier the Panthers had a number of standouts on the mound, including Portin, who finished 7-1 with a 2.83 ERA, and Fischer, who went 4-0. Looking toward next year, the Panthers will bring back four players who made at least one appearance, including freshman Nick Faxon, who finished 3-0, and junior Chris Williams, who went 1-0 with 3 saves.
 
Chatham, whose offense was considered by many to be one of the best in all of Section II regardless of class, has some numbers to back up that sentiment. This year for Chatham six different players hit in the .300s, while another hit in the .400s, and yet another hit over .500 this season.
 
 The leaders at the plate for Chatham included First Team All Conference selection Joe Cozzolino, who batted .512 this year with an absurd on-base percentage of .610. Along with the great average, Cozzolino also hit for power—4 home runs, while driving in 33 and scoring 36. Sophomore Jordan Sirani hit .419 this year with 23 runs and 21 RBIs. A fivesome of seniors all hit in the .300's including Gauthier, Portin (.304), Niles (.385), Mike Sirani (.304), and Boehme (.390). Freshman Cole Gleason rounds out the group of players hitting over .300 this year, hitting .394 with 26 runs and 21 RBIs.
 
Despite the loss of nearly half their team to graduation, the Panthers should again be competitive next year with Faxon, Williams, and sophomore lefty Evan Young. At the plate Cozzolino, Jordan Sirani, and Gleason will be looked upon heavily to lead the charge.