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PRESORTED STANDARD U.S Postage Paid Falmouth Publishing Co. It’s A Pitcher’s League It does take a while for the wood bats to catch up, but the Cape League has always been a pitcher’s league. Opening Day Bobby Gagg (12-2), a starter at Coastal Carolina, pitched four perfect innings of relief in nailing down a 6-3 victory for the Yarmouth- Dennis Red Sox over the Hyannis Mets. Brewster Whitecaps right-handed Ryan Cook (USC) struck out 11 Orleans Cardinals in his Cape League debut in six innings, while giving up just one hit and no walks. Steve Dodson (Georgia) pitched seven innings of one-hit baseball to lead the Red Sox over the Cha- tham A’s as Y-D continued it’s title defense. Bourne held on to defeat Cotuit 7-6 behind the six innings DAN BROWN/ENTERPRISE of three-hit, one-run baseball pitched by Mitch Har- Father’s Day at Guv Fuller Field. ris (Naval Academy), then exploded for seven runs in the eighth inning to defeat Falmouth 15-8 the next day, as right-handed Jeff Richard (Central Michigan) held the Commodores to one hit over the fi nal three Coach frames. John Schiffner Dan Hudson (Old Dominion), Evan Crawford (Au- Shares Cape burn) and Matt Fervert (Missouri State) allowed the League History Wareham Gatemen just two hits over nine innings in Page Three a 3-0 win for the Mariners. The Cape League is a pitcher’s league with many former pitchers now in the major leagues. This year once again promises more outstanding performanc- Cash: Fighting For es as some of the best players in collegiate base- An MLB Spot ball go head-to-head for the next eight weeks. It’s Page Six defi nitely worth a trip to the park. Dan Crowley, Editor Dick Bresciani The Face of the CCBL Recalls His Time With The Cape 3 League Page Ten 4VNNFS MATTHEW BURKE/ENTERPRISE 5IF& OUFSQSJTFT Family Friendly Whitehouse Field Page 7 S 6OL *UNE B 9OUR 'UIDE T U O THE #APE #OD "ASEBALL , 4 EAGUE Cape League Hits A Home Run With ).3)$% Opening Day 22EVIEW (OUSING(OU EVIEW SING 7HITEHOU7HITEHOUSE &IEL Pages 8-9 !LL )N 4HE !LL )N 4HE &AMILY SE & Florida State Uni- &AMILY IELDD versity sophomore $ICK "RESCIA Players Become A Part Of The Family Buster Posey likes the 2EMEMBERS NI Pages 13 Cape. Last year he won a Cape Cod League #HATHAM #OACH Look for this issue online @ championship, as a member of the Yarmouth- #LOSES )N /N (ISTORY Dennis Red Sox. This spring when Team USA www.capenews.net
02%3/24%$ 34!.$!2$ 53 0OSTAGE 0AID offered him a roster spot, the talented short- &ALMOUTH 0UBLISHI NG #O stop turned catcher elected to return to Cape On The Cover: Y-D’s Gordon Beckham. Cod, and the Red Sox. This year Posey was Photo by Don Parkinson selected to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference fi rst team. He is a fi rst team All-American and one of three fi nalists for the Johnny Bench Award that recognizes the top college catcher publisher project manager design services manager in the nation. This spring, with the Seminoles, William Hough Chuck Borge Christine Stutzman he hit .382, ranking fi fth in the ACC. Last sum- sports editor sales manager design services mer, with Y-D, Posey hit .289 with a wood bat. Dan Crowley Linda Stewart He began his college career as the starting Chris Avis photo editor Jill Spencer shortstop for FSU, receiving Louisville Slugger Julia Balducci All-American honors and selection to the ACC sales Don Parkinson All-Academic team. Last summer he played Danielle Guay design & layout press supervisor 35 games at short and fi ve at third base for Dawn Mitchell Elisabet K. Rodrigues David Pittman Y-D. He also made four appearances on the Trisha Herlihy Rebecca Whittingdon mound for the Red Sox, and one his freshman 50 Depot Avenue Nancy Medeiros Enterp year for the Seminoles. In 2004 Posey played e ri Falmouth, MA 02540 Esther Buchanan h s in Taiwan as a member of the 2004 USA Junior e 508-548-4700 • 1-800-286-7744 Pam deLala T Olympic team where, as a pitcher, he record- Falmouth • Mashpee • Bourne • Sandwich Fax: 508-540-8407 ed a 1.23 ERA. Thursday, June 21, 2007 SUMMER STARS 3 Still a Summer Catch Chatham’s John Schiffner Chases History BY MATTHEW M. BURKE since 1974. I know an awful is a college league, you’re John Schiffner has a repu- lot about the history of the not going to be a head tation for being gruff, and he league and to be included coach.’ I said, ‘Okay, I’ll try. plays the part, looking more in that group already, to me, I’ll do my best and if that’s like someone you’d expect it’s humbling … Sometimes the case that’s the case, and to pull up to you at a stop- I wonder wow, how lucky I I’ll make a decision at that light riding a Harley than a am to be in that position. If point.” baseball coach. it happens, it happens, if it Schiffner said that when he His trademark mustache doesn’t that’s fi ne. I’ve had a entered the Cape League it and thick physique can, at great run here. For me, just was in stiff competition with times, be a bit intimidating. to coach one year was the the Alaskan League. In the For those who have never goal.” early 80s, the CCBL chose met him, seeing him in the Schiffner smiles, because wood bats over aluminum. corner of the dugout with he was passed up for head This move brought energy to his arms crossed, looking coaching positions in the the league he says. He also sternly at the fi eld as he ana- CCBL at least eight times, said the quick path to the lyzes the game, only adds to interviewing for many dif- Major Leagues by several this misconception. ferent positions, before Cape League alumni brought However, spend fi ve Chatham stepped up to the league to prominence. minutes with the man, and the plate and gave him a This led to sponsorships and quickly you will see that he shot. The naysayers told an infl ux of talent, something is funny, laid back, kind, him that because he was a that Schiffner absolutely and passionate about the high school baseball coach, loves. game of baseball. He drives and the CCBL is a college Continued on Next Page two hours from his home league, he wasn’t qualifi ed in Connecticut to games to become a head coach. SHOP AT HOME and practices for the fi rst Furthermore, he says that two weeks of the season people doubted his recruit- because, as a high school ing abilities. teacher, he is obligated to Schiffner has proven be at work everyday until them all wrong. He won the end of the year. He has league championships in :063$0.1-&5& a home in Chatham and 1996 and 1998, coaching %&$03"5*/($&/5&3 often stops there on the in fi ve total title games. way home for a meal or Schiffner guided the A’s to h.OBODY $OES )T "ETTERv a shortened night’s sleep the playoffs in eight straight KITCHENS • COUNTERS CABINETS TILE WOOD before making the trip back seasons and was awarded home for class. the Mike Curran Award He is an outdoorsman who MATTHEW BURKE/ENTERPRISE for Manager of the Year in enjoys fi shing and hunting; John Schiffner, Head Coach of the Chatham A’s. 1999. He says that his fi rst his father raised bird dogs championship felt vindicat- when he was a kid. On the ing. baseball fi eld, he is intense 313 wins, after opening the Chatham dugout at the end “Everybody asked me, and so happy to be there season with two losses to of an A’s practice, several ‘What are you going to do?’” that when he steps onto the Harwich and Y-D. He is 21 days prior to the start of the he recalls looking out onto '6--%&4*(/ fi eld, it is evident that he is wins shy of the record held season. “Because I’d like the fi eld, under overcast 4&37*$&4 truly at peace. by Don Reed, the legendary to consider myself a minor skies; the fi eld is now empty. Schiffner, who grew up in Y-D and Wareham skipper. historian of the Cape Cod “I said, ‘Well, I want to be a "7"*-"#-& northern New Jersey, fi ts Schiffner has become the League, since I’ve been here head coach,’ and everybody the mold of what all Cape face of the Cape League pretty much without a break said, ‘Well, you can’t be, this League coaches should be, in recent years, fi rst be- )JHIPO2VBMJUZ because he says that he ing portrayed in the book )JHIPO4FMFDUJPO gets the most enjoyment “The Last Best League: out of being a coach from One Summer, One Season, 6ISIT 3UMMER 3TARS ON THE 7EB -PXPO1SJDF seeing his players develop One Dream” by Jim Collins into stars, on both the high and later by Brian Dennehy MASHPEE: school and Cape League in the 2001 major motion FEATURING 106 Falmouth Road, levels. He exhibits genuine picture “Summer Catch,” sportsmanship and class, starring Freddie Prinze Jr. Route 28 even leading his team in and Jessica Biel. .OTES FROM THE 508-477-7847 giving an opposing player Not bad for a high school 7RITERS "ULLPEN a standing ovation after a baseball coach (Schiffner FALMOUTH: commanding performance coaches the Plainfi eld, Con- 'AME $AY 719 Main Street on the mound last season. necticut Panthers, where he 508-548-1443 Schiffner is also motivated has been a teacher for 29 &ORECASTS strongly by winning. years), and social studies DENNISPORT: Schiff is going into his 15th teacher, with no Division I or BUSINESS FOR OVER 35 YEARS A LOCAL, FAMILY season as the head coach even prior college coaching ##", 3TATS 377 Route 28 of the Chatham A’s baseball experience. If Chatham has 3CHEDULES 508-398-4784 club. He was an assistant a good season, Schiffner $IRECTIONS coach for nine years before could be on his way to Cape 'BMNPVUI.BTIQFF being handed the reigns in League immortality as the PQFO4VOEBZ/PPOUPQN xAND -ORE .BTIQFFPQFO5IVSTEBZ 1992. He also played in the winningest coach in league VOUJMQN league for Harwich while a history. third baseman from Provi- “To be this close to break- Established 1971 dence College. ing that record is, to me, &OLLOW THE 3UMMER 3TARS LINK #APE.EWSNET #ALL NOW FOR OUR AT HOME SHOPPING SERVICE At press time Schiffner had humbling,” he said from the PROFESSIONAL INSURED INSTALLERS 4 SUMMER STARS Thursday, June 21, 2007 Still A Summer Catch
Continued from Page 3 players are working hard and Schiff has coached every- have game. one from Mike Lowell, of the He is excited to welcome Red Sox, to Drew Meyer, an back Matt Giannini, a right- infi elder and top prospect handed pitcher from Rut- in the Texas Rangers orga- gers, and Allan Dykstra, a nization, over the years. He Wake Forest fi rst baseman, says that he doesn’t plan on who led the Cape League teaching 18-year-olds how in RBI’s last year. He is to play baseball when he’s in also excited to welcome his 60’s and 70’s, but at 51- Tim Federowicz, a catcher years-old, he says that there from North Carolina, and is still a lot left in the tank. Gavin Brooks, a left-handed “There’s no end in the near pitcher from UCLA, to the future,” he said. “I’ll know Cape for the fi rst time. when its time. I don’t have a He says that there is deadline. Its still a lot of fun, always a certain amount of you can’t beat it. I always tell pressure mounting behind DON PARKINSON/ENTERPRISE people, I feel that I have one the scenes for him to put Alex Avila, Harwich’s hard-hitting designated hitter, chalked up fi ve hits in 11 at bats of the 10 best jobs in ama- together another contender, over the Cape League’s opening weekend, on his way toward leading the Mariners in teur baseball, and then I do despite the fact that he average, at .455, and hits. The Alabama sophomore, who is the son of Al Avila, the Vice show my Chatham blue and I hasn’t heard anything to that President and General Manager of the Detroit Tigers, had an outstanding fi rst three say, ‘I think I’ve got the best effect, but he looks relaxed. games and at press time, led the league in doubles with four, extra base hits, and was one.’” “I’m sure there’s some second in runs scored with fi ve. Avila was also third in slugging with .818. Coach Schiffner, with a people in Chatham who little help from his assistant would like to see us win As much as you’d like to, him being caught smoking the college or pro games, coaches, does all the recruit- more than we have lately,” you can’t win them all.” He in the dugout and players which can be one and done ing for the A’s. This year, the he said. “It shouldn’t be added that the league has drinking at local watering for a coach who fails. He A’s are heavily laden with judged on wins and losses. improved over the years, and holes. He said that most of also is not ready to leave the temporary players, with nine It should really be judged on, is so good now; the parity the players are too young. Cape League. of their contract players ar- did the kids improve from has made the league a lot He did say that the kids “It was a big gamble, and riving late due to the NCAA the beginning of the season? more competitive. still fi nd a way to have fun, I just didn’t want to take that Super Regionals and the How did the kids act on When discussing the fi lm which was accurate, as was gamble,” he said. “Because College World Series. Schiff- the fi eld? How did the kids “Summer Catch,” Schiff- the homesickness. He said I probably would have been ner said that the temporary act with their host families? ner laughs, saying that it that he is not as “gruff” as taking a 60 to 70 percent was “neat” and that he was he was portrayed to be by pay cut…I don’t have a lot honored to be portrayed. Dennehy, but he said that he of regrets, the offers just He spoke of the summer does have a gruff side. came at the wrong time.” He ##", 0LAYERS romances that were shown Schiff has been offered po- said that it was unrealistic in the fi lm. “There’s a lot of sitions in the minor leagues to think that somebody was guys that have their summer and at the collegiate level going to offer him a lead 0,!9 YOUR 0%23/.!, "%34 !,7!93 catches,” he said. “Like me, I due to his successes in the assistant coaches position met my wife down here.” Cape League, but he has de- without previous collegiate !RAS 4RANSPORTATION 4OURS In addition, Schiffner’s cided not to take any of the experience, and he didn’t boat is called the Summer positions for what he called want to start out at the entry Your .ANTUCKET 'UIDE Catch. He said some of the selfi sh reasons, namely he level. He added that it wasn’t ARASTOURSCOM aspects of the league and of didn’t want to leave the se- fair to either him or his wife himself were on point in the curity and the money he was Martha. They celebrate their fi lm and others were not, like making at Plainfi eld High for 10th anniversary in August. Schiffner is almost beside himself when asked what the league has meant to him over the years, “The level 4HE 3AGAMORE )NN of talent is fantastic,” said. 2%34!52!.4 “Whether it’s my team, or somebody else’s team … It’s almost indescribable 3ERVING to watch. To watch a Mark Teixeira hit from both sides of the plate. To watch a Matt .ORTHERN )TALIAN ÓFyqmpsf!Dbqf!Dpe!Uispvhi!Jdf!Dsfbn"Ô Anderson throw almost 100 !LL )CE #REAM AND )TALIAN 'ELATO miles per hour. To watch Gbmnpvui Izboojt! Jason Varitek hit from both Spdlz!Spbe! -ADE ON 0REMISES Ifbui!Cbs #UISINE Sbdf sides of the plate, then throw /0%. %6%29 $!9 missiles down to second -ON 4HUR &RI 3AT 3UN base … I could not ask for a better summer, and its been .OW /PEN $AYS A 7EEK Psmfbot 6OTED ONE OF THE "%34 Cpvsof! many, many summers for Psfp Cvuufs! .EW "USINESSES IN -ASSACHUSETTS Qfdbo me. It doesn’t get old.” Schiffner loves baseball, (OURS AM PM %DITORS #HOICE !WARD FOR "EST )CE #REAM plain and simple. The only BY #APE #OD ,IFE -AGAZINE way to make this summer a ,/#!4%$ 3!.$7)#( 2/!$ s 3!'!-/2% -! better one for him would be Dibuibn Csfxtufs Ibsxjdi! Cbtt!Sjwfs! Nbzàpxfs! Dpuvju 4!+%/54 !6!),!",% Dipdpmbuf Cfssz Ib{fmovu Cmbdlcfssz Npdib Dpggff if the A’s could win 22 games out of their 44 game sched- h#OME (UNGRYv ule. Thursday, June 21, 2007 SUMMER STARS 5 Traditional Rivals Face Off Opening Day
BY DAN CROWLEY (NC State), giving the Cardi- with a run scored and an The weather favored the nals an eventual 1-0 victory. RBI. Wareham and Falmouth Cape Cod Baseball League’s Brewster right-hander Ryan tied 3-3 in 2005. The Gate- season openers this year Cook (USC) held Orleans men were 7-2 winners in with partly cloudy and cool scoreless through six, allow- 2004, with the Commodores conditions across the area. ing only one hit and no walks claiming a 5-3 win in 2003. Last year on Opening Day while striking out 11, but did With two outs the Mari- only two games were played, not fi gure in the decision. ners scored four times in the as rain and fi eld conditions Chris Kupillas (Central Michi- bottom of the fi rst setting put a damper on things. Bad gan) took the loss, allowing the tone for their 9-4 victory weather eventually forced one run on two hits in two over Chatham in fi ve innings the postponement of more innings of work. Kyle Kamppi before everything went dark. than 30 games before the (Georgia Southern), who The A’s came back to tie the 2006 season was over. came on in relief of Brad score at 4-4 after two and a There were a few early Boxberger (USC) to pitch the half innings, but another Har- glitches, like the scoreboard sixth and seventh innings, wich four-run explosion in not working in Hyannis, or recorded the win for Orleans. the bottom of the third with the power failure in Harwich, In 2005 Orleans won 2-1, three of those runs cross- but otherwise Opening Day with the Whitcaps taking the ing the plate with two outs went off with few problems. victory 2-1 in 2004. turned out to be the back- Yarmouth-Dennis, Bourne, The Wareham Gatemen breaker for Chatham. There Orleans, Wareham and Har- put up fi ve runs on four hits were three Mariners and wich all opened the season in the top of the ninth inning two A’s hit by pitches and a with wins. in their opener at Falmouth, combined fi ve fi elding errors. DON PARKINSON/ENTERPRISE Hyannis Mets catcher Shea Robin holds his ground for an out Yarmouth-Dennis, last toppling the Commodores Danny Farquhar (Louisiana- against a sliding Gordon Beckham of the YD Red Sox. Robin year’s league champion, by a score of 5-2. Wareham Lafayette) recorded the win hails from The Woodlands in Texas and attends Vanderbilt. opened its title defense with fi rst baseman Dustin Dick- for Harwich. The Mariners Hyannis lost its opener to the YD Red Sox 6-3. a 6-3 victory over Hyan- erson (Baylor) and catcher defeated Chatham 6-3 in nis, knocking out 11 hits. Josh Phegley (Indiana) both 2005, but it was the A’s with Returning Red Sox starter fi nished the night 2-for-4 an 8-3 victory in 2004. Terry Doyle (Boston College), the co-recipient of the BFC Whithouse Award, as Pitcher of the Year in 2006, recorded the win in fi ve innings of work. Y-D fi rst baseman Sean Ochinko (LSU) was 4-for-5 with a run scored, while Bobby Gagg (Coastal Carolina) was perfect in four innings of relief. Center fi elder Collin Cowgill (Ken- tucky) and shortstop Gordon Beckham (Georgia) both made outstanding defen- sive plays for the Red Sox. Right fi elder Shane Peterson (Vanderbilt) was 2-for-4 for Hyannis with an RBI and a run scored. Opening Day 2006 was rained out, but in 2005 Hyannis and Y-D tied DON PARKINSON/ENTERPRISE 2-2. Y-D won 7-4 in 2004 and YD’s Mike Tamsin takes a big cut on Opening Day; the out- fi elder plays for Northeastern University. in 2003 Hyannis was a 3-1 winner. Bourne matched Y-D’s out- put at the plate with 11 hits in their 7-6 victory over the >«iÊ `½ÃÊ Cotuit Kettleers. The Braves had a 7-1 lead in the eighth when the Kettleers mounted DON PARKINSON/ENTERPRISE *ÀiiÀÊ a fi ve-run rally. Bourne fi rst Y-D Pitcher Terry Doyle fi res one over the plate. Doyle was baseman Andrew Clark (Lou- drafted this year by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 21st isville) fi nished the afternoon round. He is back on the Cape this summer waiting for an >ÃiL>Ê-ÌÀi 2-for-5 with a run scored and offer from L.A. He is undecided on whether or not to go back an RBI. Mitch Harris (Navy) to Boston College or join the professional ranks according to got the win for Bourne, al- his coach Scott Pickler. >ÀÀÞ}Ê>ÊÞÕÀÊv>ÛÀÌiÊLÀ>`Ã\ lowing just three hits in six ,>Ü}à ÕÛi V> Ê-Ì>À innings of work. Aaron Baker (Oklahoma) fi nished 2-for- âÕ >iÃÌV i>À i 5 for Cotuit with an RBI. In >ÃÌ 7à >` 7ÀÌ 2005 Bourne and Cotuit tied 1-1. In 2004 it was Bourne with a 14-1 victory with the #HECK OUT OUR SHOP Braves winning in 2003, 2-1. Orleans slipped a run past 9OULL LOVE Brewster when Dennis Ra- ben (Miami) doubled down WHAT YOU SEE 7EST -AIN 3TREET q (YANNIS -! the right fi eld line in the sev- q enth, scoring Marcus Jones 33 +7**0.)8(43*[&3>5:7(-&8* &AX 6 SUMMER STARS Thursday, June 21, 2007 Catching Up With: Kevin Cash
BY RICH MACLONE Cash is still in professional The years pass by quickly, baseball, but not exactly so Kevin Cash’s time in the where he would like to be. Cape Cod Baseball League The soon-to-be 30-year old may seem like forever ago. ballplayer is still making his In fact, though, the former living behind the plate, but Florida State Seminole toiled he’s also behind another at Guv Fuller Field in Fal- catcher now on the depth mouth not all that long ago, chart, with a trip back to the spending the summer of big leagues seemingly a long 1999 playing mostly at third way off. base for the Commodores. Cash made it to The Show An undrafted junior enter- with the Blue Jays back in ing that summer, Cash came 2002 when he appeared in to Cape Cod hoping to make seven games late in that a name for himself and turn season. He then stuck the heads of some of the COURTESY PAWTUCKET RED SOX around for awhile as the Kevin Cash sports his Paw- Major League teams that tucket Red Sox uniform in Jays’ backup catcher for the had not seen him worthy of this PawSox fi le photo. 2003 and 2004 seasons, but a draft pick back in June. never hit better than .193 in On a team that wasn’t all the bigs. that good, Cash played to be the best favor he ever After a trade to the Tampa pretty well, batting .262 with decided to do. Bay organization, Cash a couple of homers and 16 “A couple of guys got was up for just 13 games RBI. Those aren’t the types hurt, and I went back there in 2005 and spent all of the of numbers that jump out and caught, and the right 2006 season in the minors. at you, nor did they bug the people noticed it,” Cash said Upon his release, Cash eyes out of the scouts. of his big break in the Cape decided on the Red Sox However, Cash did do League. “I ended up catch- organization as a free agent something that made every ing, and did well, and there signee. scout that saw him take were a couple of different Cash said that he’s come notice. Cash joined the teams that noticed me.” to a point in his life where he Commodores a bit late that The Toronto Blue Jays realizes that he has to make COURTESY PAWTUCKET RED SOX summer, and he hit right were amongst the MLB the best decisions for his Former Commodore Kevin Cash is a top prospect in the Red away, with his average well clubs that liked what they career, and he felt that with Sox organization. over .300 for much of the saw from Cash behind the the Sox was the place to be, fi rst month of the season. He plate, and before the season even if it meant spending his had played mostly on the hot was over on Cape Cod, the time in Pawtucket. organization and it’s like position at one time too, corner, and then moved over Jays came through with a “Well I’m in the minor starting over again,” Cash but I want to get back to to second when needed. contract offer for Cash. That leagues, and obviously I’d explained. “I signed with the big leagues and be in a But, on July 1, with regu- was enough for Cash to de- rather be in the big leagues. Boston this year, I loved position to play with a team lars Alex Marconi and Doc cide to forgo his senior sea- This year, I’m not getting the situation. I knew that that’s winning.“ Brooks both ailing, Cash son in Tallahassee and make the bulk of the at-bats, I’m they had a veteran club and It’s been tough going so went behind the plate. pro baseball his career. the back-up catcher here, there really wasn’t a chance far for the Paw Sox catcher That got him noticed. “I think I would have had but I think I’ve done a good to make the big leagues out as he’s struggled to stay Cash hadn’t played a great a chance to play pro ball job when I’ve been in there. of spring training unless above the Mendoza Line. deal of catcher at Florida after my senior year, but I I’d like to have more hits someone was hurt, but the However, Cash has shown State, but he was willing to ended up signing there, for under my belt, but that will position that I’m in, I didn’t good pop at the plate, belt- go back there when they good money for not having come with more at-bats,” want to sign with a team ing four homers in limited needed him to. The same been drafted, and that kind he said. “A change of scen- that’s full of prospects, and duty through the fi rst two went for the Commodores. of put me on the map,” Cash ery is sometimes good. You not a contending team, months. Despite his strug- When they needed him, he explained. always like the team that because they’re going to gles, Cash feels that he can was there, and it turned out Almost eight years later gave you your fi rst opportu- call up the prospects. I still contribute at the highest nity … you go to a different understand, I was in that level and would appreciate another shot, whether it be because of an injury, or a 3,)$% INTO late-season call-up when the Haven’t Used ... rosters expand. “I think that to get to the your Cleats in years? big leagues, and to come back to the minor leagues, List your that’s a big challenge, to keep that same motiva- items at... tion that you have. It’s easy 1UALITY 3EAFOOD to get up for a game when you’ve got a packed house, or you’re playing in the big 9OULL ALWAYS BE 3!&% leagues, but also the pres- $ONT 3TRIKE /UT sure is that much more -6/$) ի%*//&3 ի ,*%441&$*"-4 elevated. But, you also have 'ET THE "EST 4IRES (ERE to realize, you have to keep #PJMFE-PCTUFS4UFBNFST that motivation and that fi re to get back up there. To $IFFTFDBLF'BDUPSZ$IFFTFDBLF come here, and go through the motions, you’re not go- &!,-/54( 3!.$7)#( ing to get back there, you 2TE s 0ALMER !VE #OAST 'UARD 2OAD CAPE & ISLAND TIRE CO. have to stay focused.” HYANNIS E. FALMOUTH ORLEANS E. WAREHAM 730 Bearses Way 735 Teaticket Hwy. 135 Route 6A 3057 Cranberry Hwy. WWWSEAFOODSAMSCOM (508) 775-6066 (508) 457-1300 (508) 255-9522 (508)291-7500 www.capenews.net Thursday, June 21, 2007 SUMMER STARS 7 Whitehouse Field Provides Blackout! Great Family Experience BY MATTHEW M. BURKE the best attributes of White- from behind them, leaning ted Mariners cap, for $25. sides the lack of different Summer Stars Magazine is house Field is the park- on the top. To see over the Food: The food at Harwich vantage points to watch the back for its second season. ing situation. The Harwich dugouts, I had to stand on was clean, cheap, and quality. game, unhindered, the park This year we will be pick- Mariners have an abundance the tips of my toes. The hot dogs were no Fenway was great. There are few ing up where we left off with of parking spaces directly Best Buys: The best buys Frank but they were quite Cape park’s with more space several reviews of Cape adjacent to the fi eld. It was at Whitehouse Field came in tasty at $2, served from their for kids to play catch and League parks that we were one of the most convenient the form of merchandise from new looking press box/kitch- pickle with their friends. For unable to get to last summer. and pleasurable parking ex- both the Cape League and en. I’d give them a B-plus. this reason, the park attracts The fi rst such review is of periences I’ve had at any of the Mariners organization. Some of the Cape’s parks people of all ages, from Whitehouse Field, on Oak the Cape League’s 10 fi elds. The park had two separate offer a wider selection of food, high schoolers on dates, to Street in Harwich, home of I was able to arrive at the booths, separating the mer- but at least what was served the elderly and their young the two-time Cape League park 15 minutes prior to the chandise. They had a wide in Harwich was very good. grandchildren. One draw- champion Mariners. fi rst pitch and still get a front array of souvenirs from books Best Feature: The best back was the bugs, but I attended last Friday row spot. on the history of the league feature of Harwich’s park obviously this is out of the night’s game in which the Best Place to Watch: for adults to banners, minia- was a cleared area behind control of the Mariners staff. Mariners defeated the Ath- The best place to watch a ture bats, and beach balls for the plate which allowed me How Far I Got on 20 letics, 9-4, in one of the most game at Whitehouse Field the kids. The best buy I found to get a close look at both Bucks: For $20 I got a hot bizarre occurrences I’ve is in their two sections of came in the form of some- Giannini and Farquhar. dog and a soda, a program ever experienced at a Cape bleachers right behind both thing as simple as a Mariners The Park: The park was guide, and an adult t-shirt League park in my almost 20 dugouts. The bleachers sticker for $1. It allows fans to clean and nice; the land- that was of high quality for years going to games. are stadium style and are a show their support everyday scaping was pristine. Be- $15. A van took out a utility nice touch, offering a great on the change scraped up pole, felling electric wires, view of the entire fi eld. The from the fl oor of their car. causing severe power out- problem with Whitehouse is Other great buys included: ages in the area, and in the that there aren’t many un- Cape League long sleeve fi fth inning, all power to the hindered views of the fi eld. T-shirts for $18, a Mariners park abruptly went out, leav- Almost everywhere you go, program book for $2, a ing children whooping and you have to watch the game Mariners beach ball for $3, a hollering from the bleachers through a chain link fence. miniature bat, with pen, for on both sides of the park. The dugouts should be autographs for $7 ($6 for the The game was called due deeper in the ground so that bat and $1 for the pen if sold to the outage, but not before you could watch the game separately), and a sharp fi t- /VER Harwich put up big numbers, 'RILLS 3OLD ON scoring four runs each in the #APE #OD fi rst and third innings. 3INCE Matt Giannini got the nod for the A’s, and the burly right hander from Rutgers showed why he is high on Coach John Schiffner’s list. Giannini was a tad rusty in the fi rst game of the sum- mer, and fell behind in counts early, having to rely on his fastball late, which led to hits and RBI’s. Harwich’s Danny Farquhar, a righty from Louisiana Lafay- ette, looked strong, getting strikeout after strikeout on pitches that painted corners and baffl ed hitters. He wasn’t overpowering but struck out 11 in fi ve innings, giving up four runs on fi ve hits, three of MATTHEW BURKE/ENTERPRISE the runs were earned. Harwich is a family friendly park. Here, this family takes in the Best Place to Park: One of game through the fence next to the visitor’s dugout. 4WO 'REAT !MERICAN 0ASTIMES "ASEBALL "ARBEQUE
MATTHEW BURKE/ENTERPRISE Harwich’s bleachers begin to fi ll up as the action on the fi eld heats up.
10 SUMMER STARS Thursday, June 21, 2007 The Impossible Dream: Red Sox VP Goes
team. He was considered so bilia, some of which is suited valuable to the franchise; he for a museum. The surround- was even kept on despite ing hallways are wallpapered a change in ownership. He with black and white photos was inducted into the Red of Red Sox past. Sox Hall of Fame last year. Bresciani’s long road One might say, given all of began in the upper middle the adversity overcome by class community of Hoped- the man they call “Bresh,” ale, Massachusetts, a small and more specifi cally the town in the Blackstone Red Sox as a whole over the Valley. He says that baseball past 35 years, that he has was “king” growing up, but fulfi lled the ultimate impos- the athletic Bresciani also sible dream. played basketball and ran “Yes [it is a dream job],” cross-country, the only three Bresciani said last month sports offered at his school from his offi ce deep in the at the time. bowels of Fenway Park; the After graduating from high Sox and the Braves had school, Bresciani attended been rained out. “It’s been UMass-Amherst where he a great experience with the wrote for the Massachusetts franchise being what it is. Daily Collegian, New Eng- All the players, the people land’s largest college daily, I work for, the big disap- eventually becoming the pointments and the tre- Sports Editor. Bresciani also mendous fi nish in 2004. It’s worked as a broadcaster on been terrifi c…It’s a good the UMass-Amherst radio situation.” station WMUA. MATTHEW BURKE/ENTERPRISE Dick Bresciani sits at his desk deep within Fenway Park. His Cape League Hall of Fame plaque Bresciani is a small man Bresciani was so good is on display behind him. with well-groomed gray working for the media that hair and a commanding he was hired by the UMass- BY MATTHEW M. BURKE the club through thick and storied Major League fran- presence. He is kind and Amherst Sports Information Dick Bresciani is living the thin, tasting bitter defeat as chise. passionate about baseball, Department. Upon gradu- dream. a young man in 1975, thanks Today, ask him to show the Red Sox, and Red Sox ation, he was brought on The Red Sox Vice Presi- to Joe Morgan and the Big off his enormous 2004 Red history. According to MLB. full-time. He said that the job dent of Publications and Red Machine, reliving it Sox World Series cham- com, each and every year, was a good one because the archives has been with the in 2003 as an established pionship ring, and the no he releases a prospectus on school was expanding their club since the 1972, when professional thanks to Aaron nonsense Bresciani smiles, why legendary Sox slug- athletic department at the he left positions at UMass- Boone and those damn unable to contain his happi- ger Jim Rice belongs in the time. Amherst, where he worked Yankees. ness. It is visible in his eyes Baseball Hall of Fame (Rice He had summers off from in the sports information He also experienced as he poses for a picture, has just barely fallen short work and he would visit department, and the Cape heartache in 1986, losing yet looking deep into the cam- of the 75-percent needed friends, who had played or Cod Baseball League, where another World Series, plus era lens, the two carats of to become enshrined for 13 coached for UMass, Boston he was the public relations postseason defeats in 1988, red rubies and the 1.89 car- years in a row now). College, or Holy Cross, now director and head statisti- 1990, and 1995. ats of diamonds glistening On this day, a fi le rests on playing and managing in the cian. He confronted the “Curse in the overhead fl orescent Bresciani’s desk, reading Cape League. In 1965, he Since then, Bresciani’s of the Bambino” on a daily lights. simply: Johnny Pesky. His began to score games for professional life has been basis, beginning when he It has been a long road offi ce is fi lled with papers the league, and later, in 1967 a roller coaster ride, com- arrived at the park each and for Bresciani, from the Cape and books; the subject is all he was asked to help run plete with dramatic ups and every day to discuss the League to becoming a World baseball; and the room is the league by Cotuit General downs. He has been with history and records of the Champion with his favorite adorned with other memora- Manager Arnold Mycock and Commissioner Bernie Kilroy. So Bresciani came to the Cape. He called the sports editor at the Cape Cod Times and asked if they were looking for people to cover games. They said yes, and he was assigned several games over the course of the season. The next year, he would see even more action. He made $3 per con- test scoring games for the league. After each game, he would go the Times’ Hyan- nis offi ces and write stories for $5 a pop. He became the league’s head public rela- tions man in the winter of 1967. Bresciani is the man who hired CCBL President Judy Walden Scarafi le to score games for the league. The two had met as college writ- ers covering their respective schools, Bresciani at UMass Thursday, June 21, 2007 SUMMER STARS 11 From Cape League To Yawkey Way And Wins It All and Walden Scarafi le at In May 1972, he fi nally got Red Sox playoff runs dur- Hall of Fame in 2003 and Cotuit, and Joe Lewis of UConn. a call. It was Crowley on the ing the 1970’s, 1980’s, and he received the University’s Chatham, touring around the “That started me getting phone, and Art Keefe, the 1990’s. Alumni Award for Profes- country in the 1960’s improv- involved,” Bresciani said. “It assistant director of public Bresciani made many sional Excellence in 1994. He ing the league by recruiting sparked more of an inter- relations, was leaving Bos- contributions to the mod- was inducted into the New the top talent in the country. est in me [in regards to the ton for the head job with the ern day Red Sox franchise. England Italian-American He remembers when the CCBL].” Milwaukee Brewers. They Under his stewardship, the Sports Hall of Fame and the Cape League All-Stars used Bresciani says that the asked if he could interview Red Sox began a uniform Red Sox Hall of Fame last to play the Atlantic Coast league was going through a that weekend. Bresciani said number retirement policy in year. League All-Stars, before transformation period during ‘yes’ and the rest is history; 1984, the national Tony Coni- “I was fortunate to be in switching to an all Cape the time of his arrival. A few he was now the assistant di- gliaro Award in 1990, which the fi rst group [inducted League All-Star format. years earlier, the Upper Cape rector of public relations for is distributed annually, and to the CCBL Hall of Fame] He remembers four fi rst and the Lower Cape leagues the Boston Red Sox. He said the Red Sox Hall of Fame in in 2000,” he said, adding round picks from the Cha- had been merged and NCAA that old friends turned out tham A’s in 1968, including sanctioning in 1967 had in force for the induction Thurman Munson and Bobby attracted money and better ceremony, from old scouts Valentine. He said that the players. to players to front offi ce allure of having the scouts at With NCAA sanctioning personnel. “That was nice. I games and also the qual- and Major League Baseball think it was great.” ity of those types of players funding came rules. The Today, Bresciani sits in his got the league to where it is teams were forced to aban- quiet offi ce, a fl urry of activ- today. don the town team format ity just out the door. He is “Thurman Munson was and eventually did away in charge of all Red Sox pub- really an amazing player,” with high school players lications and he works with he recalled. “In 1967 with and older players, both of Red Sox alumni for events. Chatham, they won the title. which generally lived in their “We try and do a lot with the The year after, they had four respective towns. Somehow alumni,” he said matter-of- number one picks.” Bres- the league’s administration factly. Bresciani also deals ciani continues, rattling off got all of the teams to agree with historical data and the names of lesser-known with these rules, despite records. He was promoted players that impressed him grumblings against banning to vice president of public during his time with the town players that were not in affairs in 1996 and served Cape League. college. in that capacity until he was Today Bresciani doesn’t Another phenomenon promoted again in 2003 to get to as many games as started happening soon his current position. he would like to due to his after: players started getting He still works with the me- work. He said that he still drafted by Major League dia but not in the traditional follows the league though, Baseball. sense. He now works with and he keeps in touch For Bresciani, the experi- people writing books and with Walden Scarafi le. He ence would prove to be making documentary fi lms, said that he tries to help invaluable. He says that he and even people wishing to them in any way that he met baseball professionals compare statistics of Red possibly can. He and his and established contacts, Sox players from the past. wife Joanne, a fi rst grade which would clearly help him He says that these members teacher for many years, later. of the media are not cov- generally just relax if they “The Cape Cod Baseball ering the day-to-day fi eld can make time to come to League helped me with the play of the team, but there the Cape. Red Sox,” Bresciani said. is still quite a bit of media For Bresciani, the league “Being in the Cape League involvement. He works hand is slightly different now, but exposed me to more pro- in hand with the current PR he still has his hand on its fessional baseball people. regime. pulse. He said that there is Same thing at UMass [al- MATTHEW BURKE/ENTERPRISE Bresciani says that he is a lack of continuity nowa- though not quite to the same Dick Bresciani showing off his World Series Championship proud of the Red Sox orga- days where players play extent]; it expanded my ring. nization for keeping up the only one year in the league, horizons.” relationship with the Cape two at the most. He said He adds that it helped him that he knew Keefe because 1995. He won the Robert O. League over the years. The teams used to be able to when he came to Fenway Keefe had covered the Red Fishel Award for MLB Public current ownership pays to build and keep the same Park for his fi rst interview. Sox Impossible Dream sea- Relations excellence in 1997. bus the players to games players for several years. He was relaxed. “I maybe son for the Cape Cod Times Bresciani served as chair- for safety reasons and the He is also concerned by the had something extra over in 1967. man for the Task Force Yawkey Foundation also season being constantly the other candidates,” Bresciani said that at the Committee for the 1999 All- donates money for fi eld im- squeezed by the College he said. “I had this Cape time, getting a job as an Star Game Week at Fenway provements. World Series, and by play- League experience that defi - assistant PR director was Park. He has been the liaison Despite his successes, ers being snatched up by nitely helped me. It would quite an accomplishment. between the club and the Bresciani will never forget Team USA. have been more diffi cult to At the time, almost every Red Sox Booster Club since where he came from. “Of “That era is gone,” he said get this position here if it Major League club had a 1981, which is the team’s of- course the Cape League is referring to a time when had not been for the Cape small front offi ce. There fi cial fan club, and he is also now the number one league television didn’t drag out the League.” weren’t really any promo- the liaison between the team in the country, no doubt,” College World Series and Bresciani had gotten to tions going on at the time. and the Cape League where he said unfl inchingly. “With players would stay with the know the Red Sox public re- He said that the front offi c- he serves on the board of the amount of talent on same CCBL team for several lations director Bill Crowley es began to expand around directors. every team, it’s the great- years. “It’s like free agency in over the years in the Cape 1980 with the additions of Bresciani is a Hall of est it’s ever been in the last Major League Baseball. You League. And despite the fact marketing and promotions Famer’s Hall of Famer and 10 years.” He adds that the can’t build any real continu- that he knew that there were staff. has received his fair share of league switching to wood ity.” no openings, Bresciani sent The Red Sox promoted accolades. He was elected bats in 1985 helped propel But Bresh doesn’t blame Crowley a resume and asked Bresciani to PR director in into the Cape League’s Hall it to the forefront of amateur anyone; it’s just the way it to be kept in mind should 1984, and he became a vice of Fame in 2000, the inaugu- collegiate summer baseball. is. Who can blame a kid for any PR jobs open up. He president in 1987. He coor- ral class. He was inducted “Bresh” remembers Jim signing with a Major League was denied several times. dinated the media during the into the UMass Athletic Hubbard, the coach of club? That’s what he did. 12 SUMMER STARS Thursday, June 21, 2007 AAroundround TheThe BBasesases BY DAN CROWLEY September 24, 1997. Varitek bases. Aaron Baker (Okla- Yarmouth-Dennis General played for the Hyannis Mets homa) and Mike Bianucci Manager Jim Martin gave his in 1991 and 1993. (Auburn) lead the club with players pink bats on Open- After an Opening Day that three steals apiece. ing Day in support of The saw no home runs, Kevin Bourne’s Ben Guez (Wil- American Cancer Society’s Dubler (Illinois State), of the liam & Mary) is leading the Walk for Life that was being Falmouth Commodores, league after two games held at their home fi eld facil- broke the ice in the fi rst inning with fi ve runs scored. The ity. The Red Sox picked up of Saturday afternoon’s game speedy Guez knows how 11 hits with their pink bats at at Bourne’s Doran Park. In the to work his way around the McKeon Field, defeating the top of the fi rst inning Dubler bases, having three steals in Hyannis Mets, 6-3. took Bourne starter Rick two games. Guez had eight Was it home fi eld ad- Zagone (Missouri) deep down steals in 13 attempts for the vantage when a car hit a the right fi eld line, clearing the Tribe this spring. utility pole in the area of 330-foot fence by another 30 Bourne, Harwich, Orleans, Whitehouse Field in the fi fth inning of the Harwich Mariner’s fi rst game of the season? With the fi eld in darkness, the result was a 9-4 Harwich victory over Chatham, who had runners on fi rst and second with no outs in the fi fth when the car struck, forcing the game to be called. Right-handed pitcher Terry Doyle (Boston College) fi nished last season with the Y-D Red Sox with a 5-1 record, 2.89 ERA and as one of two winners of the B. F. C. Whitehouse Award as Out- DON PARKINSON/ENTERPRISE standing Pitcher of the Year. The men in blue return to the Cape for another season. Shaun Seibert (Arkansas), of Brewster, was the other recipient. In his second sea- Cape League Announces son with the Red Sox, Doyle began the 2007 campaign with a victory. CBUAO To Umpire 2007 Season The Orleans Cardinals (2005, 2003) and the Y-D Red After spending fi ve years Baseball League has entered Sox (2006, 2004) have each with the Eastern College into a long-term agreement won the league champion- Athletic Conference (ECAC), with the CBUAO,” said Yas, ship in two of the past four the Cape Cod Baseball CCBL Director of Offi ciating. years. Prior to winning in League has signed a con- “(CBUAO President) Nick Zi- 2003, the Cardinals had not tract with a new umpiring belli has assembled a group won since 1993. The last group. Commissioner Paul of the fi nest umpires in the time Y-D won it all prior to Galop and Deputy Commis- Northeast to offi ciate the 2004 was in 1990. sioner Sol Yas announced 2007 season and beyond. In 1998 Brewster White- that the CCBL will partner The Cape League deserves caps outfi elder Bobby Kielty with the College Baseball the highest level of offi ciat- (Mississippi) won the Cape Umpires Assigning Organi- ing available, and I’m con- League batting title with a zation (CBUAO) for the 2007 fi dent the CBUAO will meet .384 average. Kielty, cur- season. our expectations.” rently on the 60-day disabled “The Cape Cod Baseball For the past several years, list with the Oakland A’s, League has a long tradi- Zibelli assigned umpires was inducted into the Cape tion of attracting the fi nest for the CCBL under the Cod Baseball League Hall players in the nation and auspices of the ECAC, but of Fame in 2005. Ken Voges our goal is the same for our recently moved on to form (Texas Lutheran), of Cha- DON PARKINSON/ENTERPRISE offi cials,” said Galop. “We his own umpiring group and tham, holds the record for Hyannis third baseman Patrick Long (Georgia Tech) makes believe we have accom- the Cape League decided to the highest batting average contact in a recent game. plished that goal by entering form a partnership with the in a Cape League season, into this agreement with the new group. having hit .505 in 1963. feet with a two-run blast. The Wareham and Yarmouth- CBUAO. We are very much “It’s been a pleasure work- Voges also was inducted Braves eventually won 15-8. Dennis were all opening looking forward to this long- ing with Sol Yas and Paul into the Cape League Hall of Later that day Yarmouth-Den- day winners with the largest term relationship. We en- Galop over the past fi ve sea- Fame in 2005. nis shortstop Gordon Beck- margin of victory fi ve runs joyed our tenure and growth sons,” said Zibelli “Our um- Boston Red Sox catcher ham (Georgia) went deep with in the Mariners’ 9-4, fi ve- with the ECAC and wish pires are excited about this Jason Varitek (Georgia Tech) another two-run shot to right inning, win over Chatham. them nothing but the best.” new long term partnership won the Cape League bat- fi eld in Y-D’s 4-1 victory at The Wareham Gatemen, The CBUAO will assign and can’t wait for the season ting crown in 1993. That Chatham’s Veteran’s Field. 5-2 winners over Falmouth, umpires to all 220 regular to start. There is nothing like summer Varitek hit .371 for Cotuit coach Mike Rob- currently maintain the lon- season games, along with summer baseball on Cape the Hyannis Mets. He was erts has his team running gest opening day unbeaten the CCBL All-Star Game at Cod.” drafted and signed by the once again. Just three streak. They fi nished in a 3-3 Spillane Field in Wareham John Garner, Jr. CCBL Seattle Mariners before games into the season tie with Falmouth in 2005. July 28 and the Cape League Director of Public Rela- being traded to Boston. “Runnin” Roberts has They last lost an opening Playoffs in early August. tions & Broadcasting He made his major league the Kettleers leading the day game in 2003, a 5-3 “I’m pleased the Cape Cod [email protected] debut with the Red Sox on league with 10-plus stolen decision at Falmouth. Thursday, June 21, 2007 SUMMER STARS 13 Around The Bases Players Impact Extends Beyond the Diamond BY CHRIS KAZARIAN much of his time at practice opened up their home to beautiful stadium and meet are as proud of him as a real It was a ritual Owen Wil- and games, there was still three players. Again, Owen some of the players,” Ms. brother or sister would be. cox of Eastham had been time for bonding. The fam- and Hailey bonded with Wilcox said. He was the topic of one of through before, but last ily took him to the movies, the athletes staying in their The trip also allowed their show and tells at East- season was different. The treated him and his girlfriend home. them to reconnect with both ham Elementary School. 7-year-old was parting ways to dinner, and hosted his Brock Baber, who plays Blackwood and Baber’s par- This year the Wilcox fam- with Brock Baber, Clayton family during a visit that the guitar and writes music, ents at college games and ily continues to grow. They Shunick, and Matthew Wiet- summer. was a hit with the children. at dinner. “When we started are hosting three players ers. In a small way, they even “We had just seen that this, I never though we’d again including Shunick. “He The threesome, all mem- helped domesticate Steven. movie about Johnny Cash, be traveling around, visiting requested to stay with us bers of last year’s Orleans “He was hungry for lunch [Walk the Line] with Reese teams and seeing games,” again which is a good sign,” Cardinals, had stayed with one day and we were all Witherspoon. After that Ms. Wilcox said. Ms. Wilcox said. Owen and his family through leaving. I told him to make my son Owen had an affi n- Earlier this month, Owen They also opened up their the summer. To the casual tuna salad and he said, ‘I ity for Johnny Cash,” Ms. and Hailey were taken out of home to players on the U.S. fans they were just baseball don’t know how to do that,’ Wilcox said. “Brock, being school early so they could Military All Star team, includ- players, but to Owen these so I showed him how,” she somewhat of a southern boy, watch the major league draft ing 27-year-old catcher Ryan were friends. laughed. would play Johnny for Owen. on ESPN. When Wieters was Shephard of the U.S. Navy. That is why when they That year was when Owen They got along well.” drafted fi fth overall, Hailee “My son cried when he left,” left, Owen did something he developed a love for base- Ms. Wilcox described became so excited she kept Ms. Wilcox said. “Some- had not done at the end of ball thanks to Steven. “He Matt Wieters as quiet, but chanting his name. times it takes only 48 hours 2004 or 2005. He cried. “I would play outside with her children took to him. Although they have yet to for these players to make an think it was last year when Owen and give him point- The switch-hitting catcher congratulate him, the two impression on a child.” my son cried after they left, ers on how to be a hitter,” “impressed Owen,” Ms. that is when it hit home,” his she said. “Owen’s passion Wilcox said. “Owen knew mother Sara Wilcox said. “It is defi nitely baseball, and he was pretty special. Owen just tells you how special I think it is because of us watched him and decided this is for my kids.” hosting players.” he had to be a switch hitter When Sara and her hus- In what has become a fa- because of Matt.” band, Ed, had offered up miliar story with subsequent Clayton Shunick was sim- their Eastham home to players, Steven became ply affable. “He is a south- the Orleans Cardinals four close with the Wilcox chil- ern gentleman, just a nice years ago, they did so not dren. The experience was so person who is good with the for themselves, but for their positive that before the sea- kids,” Ms. Wilcox said. children, Owen and Hailee, son ended, Ms Wilcox said, While saying goodbye 6. “we asked if we could have is sometimes diffi cult, the “It is exciting for the kids. another player next year.” Wilcox’s have made this as- A connection is being made They were given two: pect of life a little easier on between them and the shortstop Steven Singleton, their children. players. It is such a special and pitcher Jacob Cook. They keep in contact with thing for them to say, ‘I have The two were a part of the many of their former play- a baseball player staying Orleans Cardinals champion- ers, occasionally writing, or DON PARKINSON/ENTERPRISE at my house,” Ms. Wilcox ship team of 2005. calling them throughout the Y-D’s Sean Ochinko (LSU) slides safely back into fi rst base said. “They go up above the “That was a pretty excit- year. Last spring, they went garage, play ping pong or air ing year,” she said. “It was to see Georgia Tech play hockey. We enjoy it as adults special to be sitting on the Boston College in Boston, too, but for us it is mostly sidelines. It is like having but more importantly to about the children.” your own child. We made check in on Blackwood dur- Around the league, many signs for the last game that ing his senior year. who host ballplayers are not said, ‘Go Steven’, it was This year, they traveled to unlike the Wilcox’s; they are exciting stuff.” Atlanta and Kentucky to visit families with young children, The best part of the sea- Blackwood and Barber dur- looking for ways to expose son, Ms. Wilcox said, was ing April vacation. their offspring to the world simply the relationships her Although Blackwood, who outside the home. children formed with the just fi nished up his fi fth year In 2004, Ms. Wilcox said, players. of college, was no longer she was unsure about what Cook often would sit and playing, he was still a part of to expect. “I think our major read with the kids; Singleton the team as a broadcaster. worry was whether they became a mentor to Owen During their visit to the col- would have parties all the during the Orleans Cardinals lege, Blackwood “gave us a time,” she said. “But, you baseball camp that year. tour of Georgia Tech. We got don’t really run into that Last year, the Wilcox’s to see the locker rooms, the because these kids know this is a good opportunity for them.” Their player that fi rst year was Steven Blackwood, an ѮFTQPUMJHIUJTPO outfi elder from Georgia Tech. “The most diffi cult part of the experience,” Ms. Wilcox 4VNNFS4UBST said, “was getting used to having someone new in their home.” At fi rst, she admit- BUX X XDBQFOFXTOFU ted, “it was a little weird.” That weirdness did not last long, as the Wilcox’s quickly became close to the At- 4VSGJOGPSUIFMBUFTUPOUIF lanta native. “He was just so DON PARKINSON/ENTERPRISE excellent. He was a gentle- $BQF$PE#BTFCBMM-FBHVF Bourne Braves shortstop Addison Maruszak (South Flori- man,” she said. da) throws the runner out at fi rst. While Blackwood spent 14 SUMMER STARS Thursday, June 21, 2007 The Enterprise PRESENTS 3UMMER 3TARS 9OUR 'UIDE TO THE #APE #OD "ASEBALL ,EAGUE
4HE #APE #OD "ASEBALL ,EAGUE IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS THE PREMIER AMATEUR BASE BALL LEAGUE 7ITH THOUSANDS IN ATTENDANCE NIGHTLY THE LEAGUE IS SUPPORTED BY A LOY AL FOLLOWING OF SPORTS FANS AND PEOPLE HUN GRY FOR ACTIVITIES IN AND AROUND THE GAME
,ET The Enterprise’s 3UMMER 3TARS PITCH YOUR MESSAGE TO MORE THAN READ ERS EVERY WEEK /N DECK WE HAVE A WEEKLY SPECIAL NEWSPAPER THAT WILL COVER THE LEAGUE AS NEVER BEFORE 7ITH SCORES HIGHLIGHTS STATS AND FEATURES ON THE #APES SUMMER PASSION The En- terprise WILL BE PROVIDING AN AWESOME OP PORTUNITY FOR BUSINESSES TO CATCH THE EYE OF AN ACTIVE BUYING PUBLIC 3O STEP INTO THE BATTERS BOX AND +NOCK /NE /UT OF THE 0ARK WITH The Enterprise’s 3UMMER 3TARS 'REAT "ASEBALL !VID &AN "ASE (UGE $ISTRIBUTION
)TS A 7INNER !SK YOUR Enterprise 3ALES 2EP HOW YOU CAN GET THIS 3PECIAL AS LOW AS PER COLUMN INCH #ALL ss FOR MORE INFORMATION Thursday, June 21, 2007 SUMMER STARS 15 Covering The Bases In Cape League Books & Movies Cape For fans of the Cape Cod Baseball League there is plen- ty of summer reading available and for rainouts a couple of movies, both of which can feed a baseball fi x on the Leaguers beach or on the the couch. The most recent to hit store shelves was Steve Weiss- man’s Beach Chairs and Baseball Bats released in May 2005. Weissman offers a behind the scenes look at the Of league, and the people that make it tick. He covers the Yesteryear
ENTERPRISE FILE PHOTOGRAPHS
A member of the 1915 Falmouth Cottage Club, one of the many local Cape teams that played on the eve of World War I.
Books and movies about the Cape League make great summer reading and viewing. bases, including player profi les from the 2004 season and gives the reader a glimpse at the day-to-day life over the course of a brief Cape Cod Baseball League season. In March of 2005 Mike Thomas released his book, Cape Crusaders, which offers a collection of stories about former Cape League ballplayers, many who reached the major leagues. The players recall their experiences on Cape League teams sprouted up in many towns and villages just after the turn of the century and off the fi eld while playing in the league. It is an enter- as seen in this photo of a West Falmouth club. taining glimpse at life for a summer playing in the nation’s premier collegiate summer league. In 2004 three books and a movie about the league were produced. Beginning in March with The Last Best League and Baseball on Cape Cod, followed in April with the re- lease of a novel by Patrick Robinson, Slider. The Last Best League is the story of a summer spent by author Jim Collins with the 2002 Chatham Athletics. Collins provides an inside look at what it is like to be a player in the league for a season. Baseball on Cape Cod is a photographic journey through time that chronicles the game and its history on Cape Cod from the fi rst organized game in 1865 through the 2003 season. Author Dan Crow- ley collected more than 200 photographs to tell the story of how it all began on the Cape. Later that year came the release of the movie Touching the Game that documents life in the Cape Cod Baseball League, with past and present player interviews and a look at the league’s rich traditions. In 2001 Hollywood came to the Cape with the movie Summer Catch. Although fi lmed mostly in North Carolina, the fi lm is the fi ctional story of a player and his summer playing for the Chatham A’s. In 1998 Baseball by the Beach by Christopher Price was released. Price offers a look at the long and storied history of baseball on the Cape and brief histories of the league franchises. The Falmouth Cottage Club team was well equipped for their day. Among the bats and gloves All titles are available at local Cape Cod bookstores or at the feet of the bat boys is a pair of catcher’s shin guards. The protective guards were in- online. troduced in 1906 and made popular the next year by New York Giants’ catcher Roger Bres- nahan. 16 SUMMER STARS Thursday, June 21, 2007 2007 Cape Cod Baseball League Schedule 8 SUMMER STARS Thursday, June 21, 2007 Thursday, June 21, 2007 SUMMER STARS 9
Braves’ second baseman Bill Perry (Hartford) puts the tag on Harwich’s Jared Bolden for the out in a recent game at Doran Park.
Hyannis Mets’ Catcher Shea Robin (Vanderbilt) tags out Y-D center fi elder Col- Y-D third baseman Nick Romero (San Diego State) makes the play bare- lin Cowgill (Kentucky) at the plate in the season opener. handed.
Bourne Braves right-hander Wade Kapteyn (Evansville) un- Season Opened leashes a fastball during the fi rst week of the season. With Plenty Of On Field Action PHOTOGRAPHS BY DON PARKINSON/ENTERPRISE
Bourne second baseman Ryan Soares (South Florida) waits to apply the tag on Falmouths Y-D fi rst baseman Sean Ochinko (LSU) makes a diving catch. Phil Carey. Harwich second baseman Jake Optiz (Nebraska) makes a diving catch.
Falmouth’s Jeremy Farrell (Virginia) makes a play at the hot Hyannis second baseman Scott Elmendorf (Southern Illinois) Photograph by DAN BROWN/ENTERPRISE corner. gathers in a hard-hit ground ball in Opening Day action. Harwich’s Cole Figueroa (Florida) in action at shortstop for the Mariners. Brewster center fi elder Byron Wiley (Kansas State) makes a long toss back into the infi eld.