Beattie Takes Over Anglers As Interim Manager

HARWICH – A little less than a year ago, the Cape Cod baseball community rallied around Eric Beattie after he was let go by Hyannis after managing the Harbor Hawks to a 47-38-8 record over two seasons.

Posts poured across social media as everyone from fellow Cape League managers to casual fans took to Twitter and Facebook to express support for Beattie, a former Bourne Braves pitcher who was inducted into the Cape League Hall of Fame in 2014.

Now Beattie is back in a managerial role after taking over the Chatham Anglers on an interim basis following the abrupt resignation of first-year manager Jeremey Sheetinger.

“It was completely out of nowhere for everybody,” Beattie said of Sheetinger’s departure.

Sheetinger led Chatham to a 16-15 record and the cusp of the team’s first playoff appearance since 2019 before resigning July 24. Although the Anglers are 0-3 since Beattie — who was hired as Chatham’s pitching coach at the beginning of the summer — took over, the team remains in second place in the East Division standings and is on track to earn a spot in the postseason.

“It’s been a little hectic between obviously skipper leaving and then we’ve had some other key pieces leave too, but the guys are in a good place,” Beattie said after Monday’s 5-2 loss at Harwich. “We’re still coming in with energy every day and giving it everything we’ve got.”

Hyannis’ decision to let Beattie go came as a shock to Cape League supporters. While serving as interim manager in 2022, he led the Harbor Hawks to a 22-16-6 record and was named Cape League Manager of the Year after helping the team snap a three-year postseason drought.

Last year, Beattie led Hyannis to a 25-17-2 record, finishing second in the West before ultimately falling to the eventual champion Bourne in the semifinals.

Despite being stunned that he was let go, the former right-handed pitcher from the University of Tampa and Valrico, Fla. native was thrilled to see so much support in his corner.

“It’s really nice to have support. I’m always appreciative,” Beattie said. “The people here love baseball and love the people associated with the Cape Cod League. I’m proud to be a part of it and I’m very appreciative of everything this league has done for hundreds and thousands of people. I do feel that support — I feel it from Chatham and around the league, so it definitely means a lot.”

While Beattie has been tasked with helping Chatham cross the finish line, his new role has come with more responsibilities. As the team’s pitching coach, most of his duties involved working with the team’s pitching staff and catchers.

Now he’s working to grow closer with the position players while instilling his philosophies for how the game should be played.

“This is the first year that I’ve solely been a pitching coach and I’ve really embraced that role and have invested in relationships with the pitchers,” he said. “It’s kind of a sacrifice a little bit because some of my time is usually spent with the hitters, so I’m trying to spend a little time with them and trying to get to know them better as people as well.”

Beattie isn’t trying to reinvent the Anglers during the time that is remaining. With six regular season games on the schedule, the former Cape League standout is hopeful that the Anglers can maintain the approach that helped them occupy second place in the standings.

“Our approach is to come out with good energy and play good baseball,” Beattie said. “Winning is usually a byproduct of a lot of discipline day by day and committed baseball players, so we’re trying to stay true to the process and let the results take care of themselves with good discipline.”

What the future holds for Beattie is unclear, though he said he hopes to be considered for the manager position on a full-time basis heading into next year.

“Absolutely,” he said. “I’d be very interested.”