Athlete Of The Week: Armani Guzman

A standout performance Friday by center fielder Armani Guzman (West Virginia) helped deliver Chatham back into the postseason after a one-year absence.

The Anglers needed just one more win to clinch the fourth and final playoff spot in the East Division as they traveled to Brewster for an 11:30 a.m. first pitch in a game that had been postponed two days prior due to rain. Guzman ensured it would happen.

In the 9-0 seven-inning win over the Whitecaps, Guzman went 4-for-4 with a run batted in, two runs scored and three stolen bases. His RBI single and two steals formed part of a six-run inning for the Anglers in the top of the fourth. 

The victory put Chatham 11 points above the Orleans Firebirds in the East with five games to play, thus clinching a postseason berth (the two clubs played later Friday, a 7-6 Orleans win, with the weather cancellations days earlier creating doubleheaders leaguewide throughout the regular season’s last weekend).

A New York native, Guzman (who’s also seen time at first base, second base, right field and designated hitter) is hitting .344 with a .494 on-base percentage across 20 games. And despite only playing half of the Cape’s 40-game set, his 18 steals (caught twice) are just one behind the league lead (held by three players, who have each played at least 12 more games than Guzman).