Had a great time Saturday night watching the Falmouth Commodores host the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. (The banner above indicates the field is used also by the local high school team.)

 

If you're there for beer, you'll be disappointed, as there ain't any. But if you're there for baseball, you'll enjoy it. The local populace seems keen to support their team, and the small stands were full, plus lots of people in lawn chairs down the base lines. Very intimate setting - for instance you walk through the visitors' bullpen area to make your way to the impromptu seating in foul ground in left field, and could probably bug a college prospect to sign something for you if that's your thing.

 

The game was very crisply played. I didn't bring a scoresheet, so this will have to be mostly from memory as to the highlights. Baby faced Brady Singer (UofFL) impressed with good stuff that induced weak, if any, contact. And he showed good poise in wriggling out of a jam caused by a lucky opposite field double down the line; all in all, he justified the Blue Jays picking him with the 56th overall choice last year, though they failed to sign him.

 

The home team held on to a 1-0 lead into the seventh, on a long home run to right by Oregon State's Trevor Larnach. But Y-D broke through with a run against John Sparks (Austin Peay). Fireballer Brac Warren (UOregon) shut down Y-D in the eighth, but weakened in the ninth, and righty sidearm reliever Stephen Villnes (UKansas) was put into a tough spot by his manager when brought in to face a good lefty. Two runs ended up scoring and Warren took the loss, a bit unfairly.

 

I was totally impressed by the crowd during the slow final inning or two. There was normal background conversation, but a large percentage were paying attention to the game, and it wasn't just the pro scouts.

No piped in music, or sound effect, no dizzy bat or mascot races between innings. Though, two mascots were milling around amongst the fans to keep the children occupied. The Black Dog represented a local chain of stores by that name. I believe the ball mascot is named Homer.

Just straight up baseball on the field. And this, in a reputed pitchers' league, where you can't count on offensive fireworks to keep the crowd focused on the field.

 

It's priced right, too. Free admission, though there is a donations jar if you feel like throwing a few bucks in. Team president Mark Kasprzyk was there at the entrance to greet visitors, and in my case offer a bit of scouting as to the players we'd see that evening. Concessions are available - hot dogs and burgers on a grill behind the stands, and so forth. Did I mention no beer?

 

Among players mentioned above, Brady Singer (17), John Sparks (3), and Brac Warren (32) take part in the post-game meeting, below - there's no clubhouse at this park. It would appear general manager Eric Zmuda is leading the meeting, at the center of the photo - he rocks a pretty nice salt-and-pepper goatee. Maybe manager Jeff Trundy just isn't visible in the photo.

 

Probably will take Ashburydavid to a game in a different league locale, when he comes to visit later this summer.

Source: Cape Cod League