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Game of the Week on WBZ1030.Com

05/10/2007 1:31 PM

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Cape League Game of the Week on WBZ1030.Com
Legendary Announcer Fred Cusick to Provide Play-by-Play

CAPE COD, Mass. -- For the first time, two New England traditions, WBZ News Radio and the Cape Cod Baseball League, have partnered to produce a live game-of-the-week web-cast that will air on www.wbz1030.com and www.capecodbaseball.org.

    The CCBL Game of the Week package on WBZ1030.com includes eight games involving all 10 Cape League teams, with the initial web-cast involving the Cotuit Kettleers at the defending champion Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox at Red Wilson Field, June 18 at 5 p.m. The web-casts will include both audio and video streaming.

    "The partnership with the Cape Cod Baseball league and WBZ News Radio is a perfect fit for us," said Peter Casey, Director of News and Programming for WBZ News Radio. "We are seriously committed to unique and local programming for the radio station and our website. Baseball on the Cape has been a tradition for many years and it truly deserves a larger audience. We plan to showcase Cape Cod Baseball beyond the boundaries of the Cape and New England for all to see."

    WBZ News Radio, which began broadcasting in 1921, is the oldest commercial radio station in New England. The all-news day format is the most listened-to radio station in the Boston area and covers much of the eastern U.S. at night with its 50,000-watt signal from their transmitter in Hull, Mass.

    The web-casts will be professionally produced and directed by Cape Cod E-com and the Cape Cod Community Media Center and will be shown tape delay on cable access stations throughout Cape Cod through C3TV.

    " Today's world of Live Internet streaming is yesterday’s world of 1950's television,” said Executive Producer Steve Lipman of the CCBL Game Of The Week, and President of Cape Cod E-Com. “The main difference is the diversity of programming options to instantaneous worldwide targeted audiences with few economic restrictions. The potential is limitless and Cape Cod E-Com's contribution to this endeavor is one small example of how the Internet has provided growth opportunities for a small Cape Cod based company and provide year round jobs, as well as the sheer pleasure of being a part of something this exciting and cutting edge."

    Legendary announcer Fred Cusick will provide play-by-play, while John Garner, Jr., director of Public Relations & Broadcasting for the CCBL will do color commentary. The package will be promoted on WBZ Radio’s sports segments during the week and on the Cape League’s web-site.

    The 88-year-old Cusick, who began his broadcasting career in 1941, served as the Boston Bruins play-by-play TV broadcaster from 1971-97 on WSBK-TV, Channel 38 and from 1984-93 on NESN. He served as radio broadcaster of the Bruins from 1952-70 and was also Sports Director for WEEI Radio. Cusick announced the first US network NHL broadcast on CBS-TV 1957 and spent four years announcing the NHL Game of the Week. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984 and won the Lester Patrick Trophy in 1988 for outstanding service to hockey in the United States. In addition to announcing Bruins games, Cusick was the original Boston Patriots radio announcer and also broadcast Cape League games on radio with Scott Wahle (now morning news anchor on WBZ-TV) in the 1970’s. His autobiography, Fred Cusick: Voice of the Bruins, was published in October 2006.

    “The CCBL is teaming up with the most powerful radio voice in New England and for many years its number one station – WBZ News Radio,” said Cusick, who began his long and distinguished broadcasting career in 1952, many as television and radio voice of the Boston Bruins. “Its clear channel signal is heard in 38 states and since CCBL players come from all over the country, their friends and relatives will have a chance to follow their careers via the webcast. I'm delighted with the opportunity to do the play-by-play of the best collegiate baseball league in the country.”

    The games will also be re-telecast on Cape Cod Community Media Center (C3TV)’s public access stations on Channel 17 in Barnstable, Chatham, Dennis, Harwich and Yarmouth and to other access stations across Cape Cod.

    Beginning its 123rd season in 2007, the 10-team Cape League originated in 1885 with individual town teams, was reorganized into the Cape Cod Baseball League in 1923 with teams in Chatham, Falmouth, Hyannis and Osterville and is now the premier collegiate baseball summer league in the country. 

    A total of 198 former Cape Leaguers are currently performing in the major leagues, including former Cy Young Award winner Barry Zito (Wareham ’97-’98), former MVP Frank Thomas (Orleans ’88), former AL batting champions Nomar Garciaparra (Orleans ’93) and Bill Mueller (Bourne ’92), World Series MVP Darin Erstad (Falmouth ’96) and current Boston Red Sox captain Jason Varitek (Hyannis ’91 & ’93).

    Former Cape League alumni of yesteryear include Baseball Hall of Famer Harold “Pie” Traynor, former New York Yankee greats Red Rolfe and Thurman Munson, Cy Young Award winner Mike Flanagan, Rolaids Fireman-of-the-Year Jeff Reardon, long-time major league scout Lennie Merullo and major league manager Nat “Buck” Showalter.

CCBL Game of the Week on WBZ.COM

Monday June 18 Cotuit @ Y-D 5:00 pm
Monday June 25 Falmouth @ Hyannis 5:00 pm
Tuesday July 3 Brewster @ Harwich 7:00 pm
Monday July 9 Bourne @ Wareham 7:00 pm
Monday July 16 Harwich @ Orleans 7:00 pm
Monday July 23 Hyannis @ Wareham 7:00 pm
Monday July 30 Bourne @ Chatham 7:00 pm
TBA Aug 5 or 7 Game of most significance  

Cape League Games Broadcast and Webcast through Cape.Com
    For the sixth straight season, all 220 Cape Cod Baseball league regular season games, the All-Star Game and all divisional and championship playoffs will be broadcast over the internet and also available via phone line.

    In addition, many of these games will be Live-Video web-cast over the internet through local provider Cape.Com of Mashpee. The teams have the option to utilize these additional features: high-speed intent access and voice services for each team, voice streaming and video streaming via the web and web hosting of team and league sites. Additional features include recorded voicemail messages for games scores and rainouts.

    In order to listen to a game over the internet, go to the home team’s web page and click onto the broadcasting logo. 

    Included here are the numbers and team codes for call in. For Call in via phone:

774-553-4201 Marion
508-744-4201 Barnstable
508-296-420 Cataumet
774-237-4201 Harwich
774-383-4201 Wellfleet
   

    Once in, you need to select that game you want to listen to: just press the two digits and you will be connected.

Cape Cod Baseball League 11
Brewster Whitecaps 21
Chatham Athletics 22
Harwich Mariners 23
Orleans Cardinals 24
Y-D Red Sox 25
Bourne Braves 31
Cotuit Kettleers 32
Falmouth Commodores 33
Hyannis Mets 34
Wareham Gatemen 35

CCBL All-Star Game Broadcast Live on NPR
    The 45th edition of the Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game at Clem Spillane Field in Wareham will be broadcast live on National Public Radio stations of Cape Cod and the islands.

    The Cape and Islands NPR stations, WCAI 90.1fm, WNAN 91.1fm and WZAI 94.3fm are listener-supported public radio stations serving Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and the south coast. 

    Founded by local residents, the stations are a service of WGBH Radio. They strive Other to celebrate the uniqueness of the communities they serve while discussing common issues. 

    As a service of the WGBH Educational Foundation, the Cape and Islands NPR stations promote general education by offering television, radio and other programs and services that inform, inspire, and entertain to people of all ages, origins, and beliefs

 

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