Some of the Cotuit players look on during batting practice at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox (Leeann Brothers)
Nick Solari, Writing Intern, Quinnipiac University.
Sean Bailey, Writing Intern, Providence College.
July 1, 2013
FENWAY PARK – Seventeen Kettleers hitters got an opportunity on Monday afternoon that not many baseball players get in a lifetime. Along with the position players from the other nine Cape Cod Baseball League teams, Cotuit’s players got to work out in front of scouts and limited media at Fenway Park in Boston, MA.
“It was an awesome experience to be able to work out at Fenway Park today,” Mike Ford (Princeton) said at the end of the day. “As a kid you grow up watching your idols play on fields like Fenway, and dream about playing on those fields. Today made it a reality.”
The day started at 11:45 a.m. when each player ran the 60-yard dash on the warning track in right field. Drew Jackson (Stanford) finished with the best time of any Kettleers player, running a 6.55. Steven Duggar (Clemson) finished just behind Jackson, with the second-best time of 6.56.
Tim Kiene (Maryland) and Yale Rosen (Washington St) in the outfield during batting practice. (Leeann Brothers)
Cotuit then took batting practice at 12:25 p.m. Each player got their turn at the plate, while players from other team’s shagged fly-balls in the outfield. The final part of the day was a mental test, serving as a measurement for scouts on hand.
Notes:
- Peter Gammons was on hand throughout the day, watching batting practice from behind home plate.
- Drew Jackson (Stanford) hit a shot off the base of the Green Monster in left field. Will Remillard (Coastal Carolina) joined the barrage of the Monster, with two shots off the standings on the wall, and a moonshot that fell on top of the scoreboard.
- Mike Ford (Princeton) and Jared Walsh (Georgia) were the only Kettleers to hit homeruns. Ford hooked a ball around Pesky Pole in right and then Walsh smashed one into the bullpen in right center.
- The Kettleers return to action at Lowell Park against the Brewster Whitecaps at 5 p.m. Tuesday.