PANTHERS WIN AGAIN AS THEY GEAR UP FOR SECTIONALS

Greg Dedrick
ccSCOOP Sports Editor

05-27-09 - Chatham traveled to Watervliet to take on the Cannoneers in the Panthers’ final regular season contest. Chatham jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Joe Cozzolino drew a two-out walk and Ryen Boehme singled him to second. Jordan Sirani hit an RBI single to right field to score Cozzolino and give the Panthers the lead. The lead was short lived, however, when Watervliet reached on a walk, a throwing error before Caleb Gleason hit a three-run homerun to left. The next two Cannoneers also reached, but Matt Fischer was able to limit the damage and get out of the inning giving up just the three runs. 
 
In the top of the second, Chatham answered the bell when Cody Portin hit a one-out single, followed by a long out to center field by Matt Fischer.  Parker Niles drew a walk, and Brian Gauthier followed with a homerun over the left-field fence to reclaim the lead. The Panthers tacked on two more in the inning when Joe Cozzolino, Ryen Boehme, and Jordan Sirani all hit back-to-back singles to extend Chatham’s lead to 6-3. 
 
Matt Fischer was able to hold down the Cannoneers in the second and third innings and Chatham then widened their margin in the fourth by adding 7 runs on 5 hits, a sac bunt, 2 walks, and a HBP. The big blow once again came off the bat of Gauthier when he stroked a double to left field. 
 
Watervliet answered in the bottom of the fourth, getting 4 runs to close the gap to 13-7, but it was as close as they would get as Chatham added 2 runs in the fifth and 1 in the sixth.  Watervliet was able to muster just 1 run in the last three innings, and the score ended up at 16-8 in favor of the Panthers. 
 
Justin Legault and Tom Ebonhoch combined for the Cannoneers giving up 16 runs on 16 hits while walking 4, hitting a batter, and striking out 5. Matt Fischer picked up the win for Chatham going five innings while striking out 3, walking 4, giving up 10 hits and 8 runs (3 earned). Chris Williams pitched the final two innings, walking one batter and striking out one batter.

Offensively Brian Gauthier led the way going 3 for 5 with a homerun, a double, a stolen base, and 4 RBIs. Ryen Boehme and Jordan Sirani also went 3 for 5, with Boehme having 3 hits for Chatham, driving in 2 runs and scoring 2 runs. Jordan Sirani had 2 RBIs, a stolen base, and a run scored. Joe Cozzolino was perfect on the day, going 2 for 2 with 2 walks, a hit by pitch, a double, an RBI, and 4 runs scored.

"We swung the bats well today. We continued to be patient and hit our pitch. We hit line drives all over the field and we ran the bases well. Matt Fischer gave us a gutty performance today, battling without his best stuff. We do need to clean up our defense before we head into sectionals, but I am confident we will get it back to where it needs to be. Now we just wait to see who we play in the sectionals. As a team we are looking forward to the challenge sectionals brings," said Chatham coach Scott Steltz via email.
 
Chatham finished the regular season with a 23-1 record overall (best in school history) and 18-0 in league.