The Cape Cod Baseball League kicked off its Centennial Celebration on Friday morning with a visit to Fenway Park.
The 10 groups that comprise the nation’s premier summer time baseball league arrived at Fenway in staggered teams of two starting with the Harwich Mariners and the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. The league stretches from Wareham on the mainland aspect of the Bourne Bridge to its final outpost in Orleans, the house of world well-known Nauset Beach.
Each crew participated with infield and batting observe whereas many of the subject managers have been getting their first have a look at the gamers who will kick off the season on Saturday. A big contingent of CCBL gamers are nonetheless competing within the College World Series.
There was a festive ambiance on Jersey Street as followers, family and friends members stuffed the seats beneath a heat, partly cloudy sky. Scouts from throughout MLB gathered alongside the primary final analysis and behind the batting cage, logging their salient observations on clipboards and iPads.
“I think it is exciting for everyone to come to Cape Cod and Fenway Park,” stated Hyannis supervisor Eric Beattie. “There is no better place to spend a summer playing baseball than Cape Cod. I played here (Fenway) in 2003 with the Bourne Braves and I was here as a manager last year.”
NU connection
Alex Lane of Andover is one in every of six Northeastern gamers who’ve or will probably be tendered CCBL contracts for its a centesimal anniversary season.
Lane participated in his first observe with Hyannis whereas his Huskies’ teammate, Mike Sirota, who performed for the Harbor Hawks final summer time, is predicted to affix the membership in two weeks. Tyler MacGregor of Peabody is dedicated to play for the Mariners however didn’t attend the Fenway festivities. The different three are pitchers Jake Gigliotti (Cotuit), Eric Yost (Yarmouth-Dennis) and Griffin Young, who’s ready task.
Lane, Sirota, and MacGregor have been fixtures on the entrance finish of NU coach Mike Glavine’s batting order that led the Huskies to a 44-16 document and a visit to the Winston-Salem Regional of the College World Series.
Sirota batted .346 from the leadoff spot with 18 dwelling runs, 9 double and 54 RBI whereas Lane and MacGregor comprised the meat of the order. MacGregor batted .332 with 18 dwelling runs, 11 doubles and 54 RBI. Lane batted .318 with 16 houses runs, 12 doubles and 58 RBI.
Lane transited the portal from Bryant to Northeastern whereas MacGregor was a graduate switch from Columbia. MacGregor and Lane have been highschool teammates at St. John’s Prep in Danvers.
“He was a year ahead of me at St. John’s and it was kind of funny that we both ended up in the same spot,” stated Lane. “It was cool coming to Northeastern and seeing a familiar face.”
Lane made probably the most of his alternative to impress the Harbor Hawks teaching employees. Lane regarded sharp fielding grounders at first base however made his greatest exhibiting with the bat. In the second of his three flights within the cage, Lane launched a 400-foot bomb into the customer’s bullpen on the proper flank of the triangle.
“Obviously when you grow up coming to Fenway and seeing the pros do it, it is kind of cool to do it yourself,” stated Lane. “It was good day to get out here and a great event run by the scouts. I am very thankful to be here.”
The supervisor
Beattie has spent the final 14 springs teaching baseball at Strawberry Crest High School in Dover, Fla., making ready his gamers to compete in faculty. In his second season managing Hyannis, Beattie tenders CCBL contracts to varsity children seeking to make it within the professionals.
The fantastic thing about enjoying within the Cape Cod league is that it encompasses a school way of life with knowledgeable routine. Each crew performs six nights per week and the hours earlier than every recreation are stuffed with drills and conditioning.
“I will tell the guys when we have our meeting that this is the closest thing to professional baseball without being in professional baseball,” stated Beattie. “They play, play, play and they have to take care of their bodies and their skill development on a day-to-day basis. This is a good taste for them.”
The scouts
Matt Hyde of Canton scouts the Northeast for the New York Yankees and he views the CCBL as a treasure trove of uncooked expertise ready to be refined.
There have been 377 CCBL alumni on MLB rosters in 2022 and Aaron Judge of the Brewster Whitecaps graces the duvet of the primary version of Cape League journal. Hyde spent the morning conducting infield and was behind the cage when Lane swatted his homer.
“This is always a huge day because we get to see all these players workout in a major league stadium and that is a huge difference maker for us,” stated Hyde. “They play every day and that dynamic is what separates the men from the boys.”
Ron Vaughn of Connecticut was on the primary base aspect scouting for the Oakland A’s.
“You get the whole league together here and that’s an advantage,” stated Vaughn. “You are here looking for everything you normally scout and the Cape league is a very good league. You see good ballplayers here.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com