by Shannon Hart
Lasell College
July 4, 2017
Field logo created by Hunter Mohney. Photo by Shannon Hart
How did you spend your Fourth of July? Cookout? Parade? Fireworks? Or perhaps hanging out with the Cape Cod Baseball League’s most successful team? The Cotuit Kettleers have made it a tradition to participate in the Cotuit Fourth of July Parade each year followed by a Fourth of July Fun Day held at Lowell Park.
As thousands of residents and tourists alike packed the sidewalks of School Street and Main Street, many participants assumed their position within the parade. From players and coaches to interns and bat boys, everyone involved with the Cotuit Kettleers organization took part in this wonderful day of events.
Players await the parade start. Photo by Shannon Hart
”July 4th in the Village of Cotuit is a live Norman Rockwell picture of Red, White, & Blue where every adult and child participates in celebrating the birth of our marvelous country. The parade on Main Street with antique cars and fire trucks and the Kettleers Baseball team throwing keep sakes to families,” said Coach Mike Roberts as he reflects on his experience.
As you’re most likely aware by now a parade route is not the Cotuit Kettleers main stage, but for many fans of the popular Cape League team, they were just as big of a hit off the field as they are running the bases at Lowell Park.
Parade route, Main Street, Cotuit. Photo by Shannon Hart
“I thought it was really fun to see how involved the community is with that and how excited everybody gets for the parade. It’s definitely fun to ride around on the truck with all the guys and be able to throw those towels out to everybody. It seemed like everybody was really excited and everyone knew how our season was going, it was cool to see how the community keeps up with that,” said Cotuit Kettleers pitcher Clark Cota.
Fun and games at Family Festival, Lowell Park July 4, 2017. Photos by Joe Cavanaugh
After the parade concluded at The Waldorf School, fans “headed on down to Lowell Park” for the Fourth of July Fun Day. Events included a home run hitting contest, a dunk tank, an obstacle course, a bouncy house, corn hole and face painting.
Shannon Hart at the face-painting station. Photo by Joe Cavanaugh
“Then, families walking to Lowell Park for post parade festivities with the dunk tank, sack races and face painting plus two hours of men and women villagers trying to hit home runs off an old batting practice pitcher. The day is completed with a Cape Cod league baseball game in the most beautiful amateur park in the USA watching college players compete who have come from colleges across this great land,” said Roberts.
“At the end of the day, it is wise for each of us to sit down and reflect on how blessed we are to be Americans! God Bless the USA!” said Roberts.