America's League

Where the Stars of Tomorrow Shine Tonight!

News

CCBL Tryout, Military Game, Mckeon Lights

05/29/2006 3:16 PM

Article By:

for immediate release: 29 May, 2006

CCBL Annual Tryout scheduled for Saturday in Wareham

WAREHAM, Mass. – Eighty-nine top college players from all over the country will be under the watchful eyes of field managers and general managers during the Cape Cod Baseball League Annual Invitational Tryout on Saturday, June 3 at Clem Spillane Field in Wareham.

     The CCBL tryout will be under the direction of Harvard baseball coach Joe Walsh and other CCBL coaches and representatives. Organization and administration of the tryout will be conducted by Wareham Gatemen president/GM John Wylde, who may be reached at 508-295-3956, (Fax) 508-295-8821, or [email protected]. All correspondence concerning any aspect of the tryout process should be directed to Wylde.

     “We urge anyone interested in the CCBL to come to the tryout and see some very good players,” said Wylde. “All 10 CCBL teams will have both their coaches and general managers in attendance. Based on past years’ experience, we would anticipate that 10 to 15 pro scouts will be on hand. Commissioner Paul Galop will address the players just before the infield/outfield drill. The food concession stand will be open.”

     The CCBL tryout is by invitation only and players must be recommended by a college coach who believes that player can compete at the Cape League level. Players must meet NCAA summer league guidelines and must not have signed a 2006 NCAA letter of commitment with any other summer league or team.

     Four Cape Cod natives have accepted invitations to the CCBL tryout: right-handed pitcher John Farrell (Nantucket) of Longwood, former Big East Player of the Year and infielder/outfielder Jared McGuire (Harwich) of Boston College, catcher Adam Laplante (Harwich) of Wheaton and outfielder/left-handed pitcher Matt Costello (Hyannis) of Iona. 
     There have been several outstanding players selected from the CCBL tryout, including last year’s B.F.C Whitehouse Outstanding Co-Pitcher of the Year Tim Norton (UMass-Amherst) of the Falmouth Commodores and Hyannis Mets ace lefty Charlie Furbush (St. Joseph’s).

     College coaching staffs' recommendations are crucial in determining which players are invited to the tryout and may then be selected for temporary roster positions. CCBL invitations are issued with the intention of balancing team roster positions. Representatives from all 10 CCBL teams will attend the tryout.

     Recommendations for the CCBL tryout were sought from over 150 college coaches beginning April 1. The deadline for submitting recommended players was May 12. All invited players received a phone call from a CCBL representative. A player must have been contacted and advised that he has been invited to be allowed to participate.

     A total of 159 names were submitted for consideration. The positional breakdown of invitees includes 35 pitchers, 12 catchers, 11 corner infielders, 14 middle infielders and 17 outfielders. The final numbers may change slightly due to players still continuing their college seasons.

     The tryout schedule is as follows: 9:30 a.m. - Registration at Spillane Field; 10:30 a.m. - Extended infield/outfield drill; 11:30 a.m. - Players split into three teams for a multi-inning scrimmage. Players should come dressed in uniform. An athletic trainer will be in attendance throughout the tryouts. Rain Date: Sunday, June 4 - same schedule times as listed above.

     Full details of the tryout are posted on the CCBL Web site. Directions to Spillane Field, along with parking details, are available via the CCBL Web site or the Wareham Web site. Wesleyan head coach Mark Woodworth will assist Coach Walsh along with other volunteers.

     Rosters will be available so that those in attendance can identify the players. Coach Woodworth has prepared a stats package, which will include participants and all other recommended players who are still available. 

Lighting Project at Mckeon Park pushed past 2006 Season
     Due to recent wet weather, installation for lights at McKeon Park in Hyannis will be delayed until after the Cape League season. This was done to protect the playing surface from possible damage from the concrete and crane trucks needed for the installation. The installation is also complicated by the fact that six of the eight concrete bases for the light poles will be installed in a water environment. This increases the concrete cure time and dramatically increases the complexity of installation. 
     The material for the light project is funded by the Yawkey Foundation grant and matching funds from the Pope John Paul II High School. Installations are coordinated by the Hyannis Mets through an anonymous donor. The concrete bases for the poles have been delivered and are ready for installation. Everything is in order and the lighting project should be completed by the end of September. The Hyannis Mets and Pope John Paul II High School will have lighting at major college level and will be conducive to television broadcasts. The lighting system will be among the best in the Commonwealth. Game times for Hyannis Mets home games have been switched back to 5 p.m., with games in August slated to start at 4:30 p.m.

U.S. Military All-Stars to conduct Youth Baseball Clinics
     The touring U.S. Military All-Stars will conduct two free youth clinics, presented by Bank of America and the Cape Cod Baseball League. All children ages 6-12 are welcome. The first clinic will take place Saturday, June 10 at Veterans Field in Chatham, home of the Chatham A's, from 1 to 3 p.m. The second clinic will occur Sunday, June 11th at McKeon Park in Hyannis, home of the Hyannis Mets, from noon to 2 p.m.

Cotuit to donate proceeds from Military Game
     The Cotuit Kettleers will donate gate proceeds from their game at Lowell Park between the touring U.S. Military All-Star Team and a group of CCBL players on Sunday, June 11 at 4 p.m. to the Cape Cod Supporting our Soldiers - Seaside Chapter. These CCSOS funds will be used to purchase "Quick Clot" bandages for U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fans attending the CCBL-Military games in Chatham (June 10 at 7 p.m.) and Cotuit can bring items for soldiers.
     Information on needed items can be found on the Cotuit Kettleers Web site. Flyers and collection sites are at various town libraries including Hyannis and Osterville, the Marstons Mills Post Office, the Yarmouth and Centerville Rockland Trust branches. Nathaniel and Grayce Rogers of CCSOS will throw out the first pitch along with a U.S. soldier, Jared Meader, and a Bank of America representative. 
     “We at Cotuit look forward to hosting the Military Game and recognizing the players for their service to the country,” said Cotuit GM Bruce Murphy. "Many have been deployed or will be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.”
     The Chatham A’s will offer raffle tickets for anyone who donates an item to the CCSOS. The Red Nun Restaurant & Bar in Chatham will offer a post-game lasagna dinner for both teams at the Chatham Elementary School Cafeteria.
     For more information on the CCSOS, call Beth Rogers at 774-313-0222. 

U.S. Military Team off to Great Start
     The U.S. Military All-Stars, who play in Chatham on June 10 at 7 p.m. and in Cotuit on June 11 at 4 p.m. against a team of Cape League players, have compiled an 11-1 record. The Military team has won nine straight games as they prepare for the 2006 Red, White and Blue Tour of America. Armed Forces baseball has been traced back to the Civil War (1861-1865) and flourished over the years with servicemen such as MLB Hall of Famers Christy Mathewson, Ty Cobb and Grover Cleveland Alexander performing during World War I and Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Bob Feller and Hank Greenberg during WWII. Now, over a century after its origin, our national pastime marches on with over 30 organized military teams competing worldwide modeled after the largest, most successful and only “Joint” military program here in the “Modern Era.” To learn more about the All-Stars as they make their way to the Cape, visit them on the U.S. Military All-Stars website.

Wheaton captures NCAA Regional in Harwich
     Wheaton defeated Southern Maine 16-5 in the final of the NCAA Division III New England Baseball Regional at Whitehouse Field in Harwich and advanced to the College World Series. The No. 6 Lyons set a program record for most victories in a season with 38, improving to 38-8 overall. The Lyons extended their advantage to 7-2 in the third inning on the strength of back-to-back homers from junior catcher and Harwich native Adam Laplante and sophomore Pat O'Connor (Mattapoisett). This marks Wheaton’s first appearance in the College World Series in the nine-year history of the program. Eastern Connecticut also advanced after capturing the New York Regional, marking the first time that two New England schools have participated in the Div. III World Series.

Around the Horn:
     The next CCBL Board of Directors meeting will be held Wednesday, May 31 at 6:30 p.m. at the Chatham Bars Inn. The meeting/reception will be held in the Harbor View Room.
     There will be a meeting for all Cape League Internet broadcasters and public address announcers on Wednesday, June 14 from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Comfort Inn in Hyannis.

 

John Garner, Jr.
Director of Public Relations & Broadcasting
(508) 790-0394 [email protected] 

Will Bussiere
Web Editor
[email protected]