������������������������������������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������������������ ���������������� �������������������� ��������������� ���������������� �������������������� ����������������� ����������������������� ����������������������������������������������������� 2 SUMMER STARS Thursday, June 29, 2006 From The Cheap Seats A Top Player’s Conundrum: Cape League Or Team USA Decisions, decisions. Put yourself in the shoes of an elite baseball player for a moment and appreciate the unique conundrum that many face at this time of the year. On one hand they have an invitation to play in the Cape Cod Baseball League, the premier summer league in the country. Not only does the Cape League offer the best daily competition and a chance to be noticed by a gaggle of scouts, but the other variables are nice as well. There is the beach for the rare off day. The travel from ballpark to ballpark is quite easy. The atmosphere is somewhat relaxed and the fans appreciate just about every move on the dia- mond. It’s a pretty sweet gig for the summer. On the other hand, some of the best players also get another invitation for the summer—to play for Team USA. Wow, the national baseball team, a chance to put a jersey on that reads “USA” across the chest. Not only does it rate a 10 out of 10 on the cool scale, but it’s an honor as well. However, the national team isn’t quite as laid back and loose as the Cape team. The national team’s travel sched- DANIEL W. WEBB ule is a bear, to say the least, with games lined up all over the United States and ending in Havana, Cuba. It’s an inter- esting way to see the world, but most of the sightseeing is done from buses and in airport terminals. Waiting On So what’s a player to do? Both options offer pros and The CWS cons. It would be hard to say that going either way is wrong. Unfortunately, the Cape League hierarchy has to Page Four cope with the players having to make those choices each and every summer, despite having many of them already signed on to play for their respective clubs. This year, like Doing the most, the bulk of the USA invitees were already planning Dirty Work to play in the Cape League. Of the first 20 players asked to Page Five tryout, 16 were on Cape League preseason rosters. When the invitation from the national team comes, some players jump at the chance. It’s something they’ve got to try and who can really blame them. Others, though, know right Men With Mics away that they have no interest in living that lifestyle for the Page Six summer and would much rather work on their game in one place, rather than sit on charter after charter and live on hotel and restaurant food. Players, Cotuit Head Coach Mike Roberts has seen both sides of the coin. His son Brian, an all-star second baseman with the Host Families Share Baltimore Orioles, spent the summer between his freshman Andrew Romine 3 A Unique Bond and sophomore years with Team USA. The next summer he Page Seven came to Cape Cod. The elder Roberts said that the better place, in his eyes, was the ballparks by the sandy beaches. DON PARKINSON/ENTERPRISE “You make a lot of progress if you come [to Cape Cod] to work [on baseball],” Roberts said. “Team USA is certainly glamorous, but if practicing is something that’s important, Ballpark Of The Week and getting better at baseball, then the Cape League is Page 8 the better choice, I think....[Team USA] doesn’t have a lot of time to practice because of the travel, and it’s hard to improve that way. By The Numbers “The Cape League is a grind-it-out every night [league], Pages 12 & 13 like in pro ball, against great competition.” Roberts also said that, competition-wise, the Cape Batting Around League can’t be beat. “The Cape is the best amateur com- petition in the world,” he said. “The national team is very Pages 11-14 different from what it was in 1984...it’s not like they play against the real Cuban team now.” Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox Head Coach Scott Pickler Look for this issue online @ www.capenews.net believes the chance to play for Team USA is a tough one to turn down. “To put USA across your chest is thrilling for a lot of kids and to put that on your resume is something you’ll always On The Cover: Andrew Romine follows in his father’s have, too. A lot of kids try [Team USA] one time, and then footsteps with a stint in the CCBL. Don Parkinson Photo they come here,” Pickler said. Pickler certainly would love to have the best players play in the Cape League each year, but when one of his Sox players has to leave Red Wilson Field to try out for the publisher project manager design services manager national team, he feels no ill will at all. “It’s great either way. William Hough Chuck Borge Christine Stutzman ‘I’m happy for you if you make the team, and I’m happy to sports editor have you here’ is what I tell them,” Pickler said. sales manager design services Rich Maclone This week, the players are vying for the 22 spots on Steve Krammes Linda Stewart the national team. The roster will be finalized by the start photo editor Jill Spencer of July. Some of those kids will be on Cape Cod within a sales Daniel W. Webb Julia Balducci couple of days and others will prepare to take on Taiwan in Danielle Guay Pawtucket. design & layout press supervisor Tricia Keough What’s certain is that the best baseball players in the land Elisabet K. Rodrigues David Pittman will all be on a diamond somewhere this summer. Let’s hope Dawn Mitchell Trisha Herlihy they all are on the one that works out best for them. 50 Depot Avenue Barbara Warner Enterp Rich Maclone is the sports editor for Summer Stars e ri Falmouth, MA 02540 h s and Enterprise Publishing. He can be reached at Nancy Medeiros e T 508-548-4700 • 1-800-286-7744 [email protected]. Esther Buchanan Falmouth • Mashpee • Bourne • Sandwich Fax: 508-540-8407 Thursday, June 29, 2006 SUMMER STARS 3 Andrew Romine Following Similar Path As His Father BY DAN CROWLEY 100 high school players in the the face had done more dam- talk with my dad every night east, he certainly knows that Brewster Whitecaps nation by BaseballResources. age than had been initially and he tells me to keep- when it comes to baseball, he shortstop Andrew Romine com. In his senior year, he expected. ing working hard, to stay has done all a father can do is walking in the footsteps was drafted by the Philadel- “We didn’t realize until I got positive, and not get down on for a son. Up to now Andrew’s of his father. Boston Red phia Phillies. home,” he said. “We called myself.” career has in many ways Sox fans will recognize the Wisely, when it came time a doctor and he said I had Kevin Romine is now a Los mirrored that of his father. He name. Andrew’s father, Kevin, for his son to enter college some hair line fractures in the Angeles County Police Detec- plans to continue to follow played for the Sox for seven and take his baseball to the cheekbone.” tive and Andrew doesn’t see his father’s advice, remember seasons from 1985-91. next level, his dad, while at But Andrew’s troubles how his father would be able the lessons he taught, and Andrew Romine grew up his side, left the decision to didn’t end there. A pinched to come to the Cape to watch hopefully, one day, follow his in a baseball family. “I never Andrew. vein in his neck required him play. As much as Kevin father’s footsteps all the way to really knew any different,” he Before joining the Red surgery and the removal of might want to make the trip the majors. smiled, thinking back. “I was Sox, Kevin Romine was a a rib. It wasn’t until there always watching baseball, standout player and two-time were just 22 games left in playing baseball, and going All-American at Arizona State his sophomore season that to baseball games for as long University. He still holds the he got back on the field. Not as I can remember.” record for the highest career being able to play baseball Andrew was born Christ- batting average in Sun Devil for a prolonged period for mas Eve 1985 in Winter- history, hitting .408 in his the first time in his life was haven, Florida, then the two seasons. He is also the hard. When he rejoined the spring training home of the school’s career stolen base Sun Devils he played with Red Sox. That year, his father leader (86), with a single sea- such a renewed joy that was a rookie with the Red son high of 59. In 1981, he led the first week back he was Sox and for the next six sea- the Sun Devils to a national named the Pac-10 Player of sons whenever he could he championship at Omaha. Of the Week and the Collegiate brought his young son along course, he’d want his son to Baseball Foundation Na- to the ballpark. head for Tempe. tional Honor Roll Player of “I was still pretty young “The decision was all the Week.