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Eastern Division Playoffs: Chatham advances; Orleans stays alive

08/08/2013 5:21 AM

Article By: CCBL Public Relations Office

No. 1 Chatham 9, No. 4 Yarmouth-Dennis 4

     The Chatham Anglers were the best team during the regular season and they showed it in the first round, easily disposing of the defending East champion Y-D Red Sox. The recently crowned Top New England prospect Tommy Lawrence (Maine) was on the mound for the Anglers, opposed by All-Star James Kaprielian (UCLA).

     Both starters fared well, allowing two earned runs apiece. Kaprielian was especially impressive, striking out nine Chatham batters in five innings of work. 
 
     But after Kaprielian's departure, the Red Sox imploded. Sporting a 3-2 lead, Y-D reliever Kody Kerski (Sacred Heart) gave up seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings, highlighted by a grand slam by All-Star JD Davis (Cal State-Fullerton). DJ Stewart (Florida State) launched a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth, but it was too little, too late for Y-D.
 
     Chatham’s win makes it the only team to sweep its first-round opponent and advance to the East Divisional championship.   
 
No. 2 Orleans 3, No. 3 Harwich 1
 
     The Orleans Firebirds took an early lead in this one and never gave it up, forcing a deciding Game 3 at home against the Harwich Mariners. 
 
     Harwich fought back valiantly at its home park, but it wasn’t enough. Bobby Poyner (Florida) was lights out on the mound for Orleans, giving up just one run on four hits in seven strong innings. 
 
     The Mariners' AJ Reed (Kentucky) broke up Poyner's no-hit bid in the fourth inning. He also knocked in the first run with a solo shot in the seventh inning. 
 
     Orleans took a 3-0 lead after a big third inning in which Ross Kivett (Kansas State), Jordan Luplow (Fresno St.), and Chris Marconcini (Duke) each drove in a run, and Shane Conlon (Kansas St.) capped the Firebirds' scoring in the eighth inning. 
 
     Harwich showed some life in the bottom of the eighth when Ian Happ (Cincinnati) drove in two runs off Matt Troupe (Arizona) to make it 4-3. But Troupe returned in the ninth and finished off the game for the two-inning save. Game 3 will be at Eldredge Park on Thursday.