Chatham Baseball Succumbs to Pequannock

POMPTON PLAINS — The Chatham baseball team succumbed to the ten-run rule against Pequannock High in an away game Wednesday. Pequannock (12-2) gave Chatham fits, capitalizing on a number of fielding miscues and ending the game prematurely with an 11-1 decision.

Chatham pitcher Brian Ballard looked strong at times, but Chatham fielding issues and a number of timely hits by the Pequannock lineup cost the Cougars. From the start, mistakes helped Pequannock put Chatham in a 3-0 hole.

"We kind of did ourselves in, in the early innings," Head Coach Doug Chambers said after the game. "It's a whole different game if we're down by one or two runs, but you go down by four or five and it puts a lot pressure on us and we had trouble rising to the occasion."

After retiring two of the first three batters, Ballard gave up a single to Matt Hulbert and hit the next batter, putting men on first and second. A wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position before the Chatham hurler was able to induce a ground ball to third base.

Chatham third baseman Kevin Falconi struggled to get the ball out of his glove, turning what could have been an inning ending ground-ball into a 1-0 Pequannock lead.

"I talked to them in between innings, told them to watch how Pequannock fields and throws," Chambers explained. "We have to get up and throw the ball hard, and nobody's hurt, so there's no excuse."

Another later error gave the Panthers a 3-0 lead.

Throughout the game, Chatham hitters looked off balance and were unwilling to get into deep counts.

Chatham recorded five hits, falling prey to a bevy of off-speed pitches by Panther pitcher Jordan Tabakman.

"We knew he had a decent curve ball, and that's what they were aware of. We talked about swinging at first pitch fastballs … I didn't think they'd all go up swinging at the first pitch," Chambers said.

The Cougars would find some success in the top of the fifth inning, though, as Dan Haus ripped a two out double to center. Kevin Falconi then worked a walk before designated hitter Matt Reader thumped an RBI double to right field, getting Chatham on the board, 6-1.

But in the bottom of the fifth, Pequannock would again take control, doing most of its damage in the inning.

Leading 6-1, Pequannock's Chris Werr started off the inning with a triple. Five more Panther hits would result in five Pequannock runs, ending the game prematurely.

"They're a good team, so we really can't let them capitalize. There were a few times that we had outs in our back pockets, but didn't make plays. We let guys have second chances, and they capitalized," Chambers said.