Cape Cod League Baseball

Although not what you would normally expect from me being an outdoor blog, I'd like to tell you a little about one of the "treasures" we have in our back yard that very few people know about.

The Cape Cod Baseball League is a summer league for college players. Games are played at different town fields throughout the Cape. If you've ever stuck through NESN during a Red Sox rain delay, you have probably seen the documentary about the league.

The Cape Cod League reminds me about everything that is right and pure about baseball. It brings you back to the stories Ray Kinsella ( Kevin Costner ) talks about in Field of Dreams. Although these are college all stars who have no doubt been told throughout there life how much talent they have from there AAU coaches and scouts, when you come down to it they are still 19-20 year old kids with the dream of playing major league baseball. Someday many of the kids in the summer league will be millionaires but for now, they are the more talent version of millions of us with the same dream as kids.

For those of you wondering, it is free to go to these games. When you walk in, there is a table with rosters and a donation can. Drop in a couple dollars if you want. It is great baseball. If you'd prefer to donate in a different way the concession stand has a pretty good variety and is cheap. Comparing to movie theater prices the food is less tan 1/2. Gatorade, Soda and Hot Dogs are all either $2 or under. If you find yourself a fan of the team or the league, they have a ton of clothes at the merchandise table to buy.

Here is how it works. These are the best players in the country. They come from colleges from as far away as San Diego. From many accounts, it is the best college summer league in the country. They stay with a " host family" during there time down the Cape. Some of the players become close friends with there host familys and stay in touch long after the summer is over. If you have ever saw the documentary, Jason Varitek talks about his host family, and they still keep in touch. The players are responsible for getting the field ready to play. If you arrive 1/2 an hour before the game you will see players hosing down the field, painting foul lines, running the tractor and other pre -game responsibilities.

We go to the Wareham Gatemen home games. There are a couple reasons for this. Number one and most importantly, its the closest field and the only team/ field on this side of the bridges. Not having to cross the Sagamore or Bourne Bridge means I can go down on a Friday night and not get stuck in any Cape traffic. Also, the field is really nice. It is extremely easy to get a good seat and watch the game. The games are played at Spillane Field ( directions on Wareham Gatemen website), which is only a 1/4 mile off Route 6. From North Attleboro its less than an hour drive.

Once you have been to a couple games during the season, you start to recognize names and route for players. There is usually a couple kids from New England schools too. I naturally route for these guys. The nice thing about Wareham is that is close and with little traffic. If you go to a game, you first feel like a spectator. If you go too a couple though, you might talk to a host family or talk to a player in the bullpen, you start to feel the warmth of the league.

During the game ( at least in Wareham) there is a 50/50 raffle. Besides the money, there are a lot of prizes ranging from Plimouth Plantation tickets, Papa Gino's Gift Certificate, to Paw Sox tickets. There are probably 15 prizes. The players themselves go into the stands and sell the 50/50 tickets. Its kind of cool to talk with them while buying. I have never seen a player that wasn't polite and willing to sign an autograph for a kid or get a quick picture taken with a fan.

If you go, check the schedules of the team your going to see. Wareham has a couple autograph nights a year ( usually on Sundays). After the game the players line up and you can get there autograph or a picture. They will sign anything but if you have a media guide, $3, they know the page number they are on and will sign that. One year we got Daniel Bard's (Red Sox pitcher)autograph and talked with him after he pitched a 7 inning 11 strikout game throwing over 95 mph! If you see on the schedule " scout day" that means nothing to us, there may be a few more major league scouts than normal, but the games go on the same and we the public are still invited.

Last night we went to our first game of the season. The Gatemen lost 4-0. DJ got a foul ball and probably would have gotten a couple more if he tried. We watched a great pitching performance by the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. Got some nachos and sprite and had a good time watching the game. The only negative is there can be some mosquitoes at Wareham. Its always a good idea to bring bug spray. Last night they were a little annoying, sometimes they can be bad and others their are no bugs biting at all. Its a crap shoot depending on the breeze.