By: Josh White

CHATHAM, Mass. – Orleans didn’t go down without a fight. The Firebirds trailed by three runs heading into the ninth and answered.

Right fielder Zach Britton (Louisville) belted a two-run double to left-center and second baseman Danny Serretti (North Carolina) knotted the ballgame up with a base hit to right.

Yet, despite marching back, Orleans was unable to hold off the Anglers in the home half Wednesday evening at Veterans Field.

Anglers’ second baseman Ben Ramirez (Southern California) attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but Firebirds’ right-hander Jeff Praml (Southern New Hampshire) bobbled the ball and fired it down the right-field line. Hueston Morrill (Oklahoma State) whipped around the bases and scored from first to give Chatham an 8-7 walk-off victory over Orleans.

“It made itself known that baseball is a game of inches,” Firebirds’ designated hitter Matt Goodheart (Arkansas) said. “We didn’t do all of the little things right and we ended up paying the price for it."

The loss snapped the Firebirds' five-game win streak and handed Orleans' its first defeat since June 20 against the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.

Jeff Praml (Southern New Hampshire) issued a leadoff walk to Hueston Morrill (Oklahoma State) in the bottom of the ninth.

“We had our backs against the wall in the ninth. We fought until the end. It says a lot about this team,” Goodheart said. “We’re a bunch of fighters. We’re a bunch of hardnosed players. It’s a good team to be a part of.”

“They put some pressure on us to score three and we responded,” Zach Britton (Louisville) said. “It shows the heart and will of this team. We don’t believe it’s over until the last out.”

Orleans and Chatham will go head-to-head in Cape Cod Fourth of July tradition at Eldredge Park Thursday night. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.

“It fires us up a little knowing we get to play them again tomorrow,” Serretti said. “We’re the two best teams in the league, so we’ll be ready for tomorrow.”

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