4/25/2013: Grayson Greiner (South Carolina) named to Team USA roster – read it HERE

4/25/2013: Tyler Beede (Vanderbilt) named to Team USA roster – read it HERE.

4/25/2013: Brian Miller’s (Vanderbilt) delivery keeps batters guessing – story HERE.

4/22/2013: Patrick Mazeika (Stetson) Earns First A-Sun Player of the Week – CLICK

3/11/2013: News from South Carolina Gamecocks – Joey Pankake, Player of the Week … read it here.

5/11/2013: A Younger Yastrzemski (’10, ’11) Makes His Way at Vanderbilt … New York Times story HERE

4/25/2013: Matt Andriese’s (’10) Mission: Posting zeros – story HERE

4/24/2013: Royals’ Kyle Zimmer (’11) strikes out 11 for Rocks – CLICK

3/15/2013: Cael Brockmeyer (’12) Named Student-Athlete of the Week – read about it HERE

3/11/2013: Cody Stubbs (’11) Named ACC Player Of The Week – click

3/11/2013: ARAMIS GARCIA (’12) NAMED TO JOHNNY BENCH AWARD WATCH LIST – story here

Leading off

While GM Bruce Murphy and Coach Mike Roberts continue to monitor the happenings of the proposed Kettleers roster this summer, the toughest job in May falls to Joanne Crossen and Jodie Cabral-Petzold, the housing co-directors for the team. It’s a hectic month for the pair as they try to match up a player with a host family thru an extremely detailed process. Earlier this month Cabral-Petzold and Crossen met with the host families and went over the handbook of policies. A question and answer period followed with GM Murphy. Subsequently the two co-directors try and visit the actual homes after reviewing the family questionnaires that are filled out. While this is going on, the prospective players must fill out forms answering specific questions that help determine what could be better matches. Tracking down players from across the country can be a most challenging task. All this research is then studied and by the end of the month, Crossen and Cabral-Petzold along with GM Murphy and Coach Roberts assign the 2013 Kettleers player to a host family. Quite a process that more often than naught winds up with the player and host family establishing a life long relationship.

Jodie Cabral-Petzold, housing coordinator, with her family and “summer sons of 2012″ Tim Mayza and Adam McCreery

Finishing the Job

Steve Kady hard at work installing engraved bricks at Lowell Park.

It was a beautiful April Saturday when several workers from Steve Kady Masonry Construction Company of Falmouth descended on Lowell Park to add many new engraved bricks to the picturesque patio surrounding the press box building. The 2012 project was such a big hit, the Cotuit Athletic Association and coordinator Don Palko are once again offering anyone the opportunity to order engraved bricks that’ll be ready for the 2014 Kettleers season. If interested, you can pick up a brochure at any Kettleers home game or simply visit this link on the Kettleers web site … HERE

Call to the Bullpen

Did you ever see the look on any kids face when they get that toy they’ve long desired? There’s nothing Coach Roberts likes better than the side arming relievers who keep the hitters off balance. Remember last year when submarining Ryan Connolly of Coastal Carolina was simply unbelievable in relief, leading the league in wins, second in strikeouts and 4th in era while throwing over 50 innings. Seems as though Coach Roberts may have Connolly’s successor this year in sidearming Brian Miller of Vanderbilt. Miller has been just what the Commodores need in closing out victories on their way to a post season berth. Miller has allowed opposing hitters to bat just .188 in 22 appearances with a miniscule 0.72 ERA. You’ll probably see an awful lot of Miller this summer!

7th Inning Stretch

• For those looking for an early glimpse of the 2013 Kettleers, Mike Roberts troops will play an exhibition series against the Lexington Blue Sox at beautiful Lowell Park Saturday and Sunday, June 8th and 9th, starting at 2 PM.

• A special Kettleers tip of the hat to Jack and Lori Kelliher of SportSite Health and Racquet Club in Sandwich as the Kettleers will once again use their facility for summer workouts and training.

• While tipping that stylish Cotuit hat, how about Martha Johnston who for the umpteenth time will work her magic on the 2013 Kettleers Yearbook which will be available for sale at the June 12th home opener against Orleans.

• We can start to count down the days until the magical moment occurs during the 7th inning stretch when precocious 7 year old Gabrielle Chevalier lights up the crowd with her stirring rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”. I can hardly wait!!!!!!

Kettleers Korner will be anything and everything that might interest fans, past and present, about the Kettleers. Roy Reiss, who started his career working for Curt Gowdy Broadcasting, was a former sportscaster on Channel 7 and several radio stations in Boston. His son Mike now covers the Patriots for ESPNBoston.com.

Beloved ballpark boasts new kitchen, restrooms … read it here (scroll to lower half of page)

Renovations to Kettleers Kitchen and new restroom facilities at Lowell Park. Photo by Joe Cavanaugh

The long wait for Opening Day, June 12, 2013…

We think you’ll LOVE the improvements being made for your comfort and pleasure at Kettleers games and events.

• Follow the progress of the first phase of the Capital Project in Joe Cavanaugh’s photographs here. 

• Help us continue with Lowell Park improvements by making a donation here.

• Learn about the Kettleers “family” and why it is so important to the community.

Renovations to Kettleers Kitchen and new restroom facilities at Lowell Park. Photo by Joe Cavanaugh

Opening day is only a few weeks away. But we’ve been working hard all year round to get ready.

We think you’ll LOVE the improvements being made for your comfort and pleasure at Kettleers games and events.

• Follow the progress of the first phase of the Capital Project in Joe Cavanaugh’s photographs here. 

• Help us continue with Lowell Park improvements by making a donation here.

• Learn about the Kettleers “family” and why it is so important to the community.

With the 2013 Cape season less than 2 months away, it’s a good time to look at what’s ahead for Kettleers followers this summer. On paper, it looks like it could be a memorable season. Of course coach Mike Roberts would caution that nothing has ever been won on paper, and you never know who will eventually arrive in Cotuit and how they’ll mesh with the others.

However, some of the players who are on the pre-season roster have certainly caught the eye of college followers. Leading the way is right handed pitcher Tyler Beede of Vanderbilt. The Auburn, MA, native was 7-0 starting the season and looks to be fulfilling all the promise predicted of him when he was selected in the first round of the 2011 Major League Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. Southpaw Jordan Montgomery of perennial power South Carolina sported a 3-0 record with 19 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched. 2012 Kettleer Jordan Ramsey of UNC Wilmington has been very impressive with his 5-2 record and 1.60 ERA in his first 9 appearances. Lefty Ben Smith of Coastal Carolina has turned some heads with a 3-1 record and 1.37 ERA in his 8 starts.

2008 RHP, Sam Brown, from NC State. Photo by Joe Cavanaugh

As far as position players, Washington State’s Yale Rosen, a big burly 1st baseman-DH, is hitting  .351 with 5 homers thru 29 games. Shortstop Joey Pankake (great name for any player) is hitting .301 in the very tough Southeastern Conference for South Carolina. Pankake was a freshman All American last year. Cotuit fan favorite Aramis Garcia, one of the top catchers in the country this year, is hitting a robust .342 thru 29 games with a team leading 40 hits. Also scheduled to play for the Kettleers this summer are Drew Jackson of Stanford (Brett’s brother) and Bradley Zimmer of San Francisco (Kyle’s little brother) which should bring a little smile to old time Kettleer followers.

Many times we tend to dwell on the baseball aspect of the CCBL, yet there’s another valuable quality that’s just as important, the life-long relationship building between player and house parents. Take for instance Debbi and Roy Ricci of Mashpee. Last month they reunited with Sam Brown, a right handed pitcher from North Carolina State who wore the Kettleers uniform back in 2008. It was the second time in the last 5 years Brown returned to the area to visit with the Riccis. The memories and the friendships that are developed over the course of one summer live forever. It’s stories like that which make the Cape League so unique in nature!

Former Kettleer public address announcer Mike Horne recently remembered one of his favorite moments working Cotuit games. Working in the old cinder-block press box where he had to climb a ladder to reach the PA announcer’s booth, a former player crawled up and told him, “Sir you’re pronouncing my name incorrectly. It’s te sheera, not tex eeera.” Of course the player was Mark Teixeira of the New York Yankees who was playing for the Orleans Cardinals (now called Firebirds) back in 1999. A public address announcer never forgets a moment like that.

A couple of other notes as spring moves into New England.

• A couple of former Kettleer hurlers staged quite a pitcher’s duel earlier this month. 2011 alum Bobby Wahl of Ole Miss dueled 2011-2012 alum Kevin Ziomek of Vanderbilt in a beauty. Vandy came out on top 3-1 as Ziomek went 7 innings plus to go 7-1 on the season while Wahl went 6.2 innings and was not involved in the decision.

• The remodeled Kettleers Kitchen at Lowell Park should be a popular location this summer. Rich and Lori Pimental of the Cotuit Fresh Market will introduce garden and chef salads as well as turkey, roast beef and chicken salad wraps in addition to the usual assortment of goodies you can purchase at the Kettleers Kitchen. Sounds scrumptious.

• A couple of former Kettleers are having impressive seasons at their respective schools. Last year’s batting champion, Patrick Biondi, set a new Michigan record for stolen bases this year while ace fireman Dan Slania of Notre Dame is on the verge of setting the Fighting Irish record for saves this spring. Finally James Roberts of Southern Cal is hitting .340 on the season while leading the Trojans in hits, home runs and RBI.

Kettleers Korner will be anything and everything that might interest fans, past and present, about the Kettleers. Roy Reiss, who started his career working for Curt Gowdy Broadcasting, was a former sportscaster on Channel 7 and several radio stations in Boston. His son Mike now covers the Patriots for ESPNBoston.com.

Cotuit Fresh Market is located at 737 Main Street in the heart of the village, just a long toss from Lowell Park, home of the Kettleers.

The Kettleers organization welcomes Cotuit Fresh Market to Lowell Park and looks forward to a long and fruitful partnership.

We may still have some snow on the ground here on the Cape but most college baseball programs have already played a minimum of 10 games. And it’s always interesting to check in on the most recent Kettleer players to see how they’re doing after starring at Lowell Park last summer. Most are continuing to post impressive numbers after last season’s spectacular 30-14 team record.

Kevin Ziomek pounding the zone for the Kettleers, Summer 2012. Photo by Joe Cavanaugh

Leading the way is southpaw Kevin Ziomek of Vanderbilt who has turned into the ace of the Commodores staff. The Amherst, Mass native was recently named the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week. Ziomek in his last start turned in a brilliant shutout against Illinois-Chicago where he struck out 15. On the season Ziomek, who really turned around his career last summer with the Kettleers, is 3-0 with a 0.82 ERA and 33 strikeouts thru 22 innings pitched. More and more it’s looking like the stylish lefty is going to be a first round draft pick in this June’s Major League Draft.

Sticking with the 2^nd ranked Vanderbilt program, Tony “TK” Kemp is leading the team in hitting with a lofty .383 average thru 13 games with 8 stolen bases. Mr. Excitement is a major reason Vandy is 12-1 on the season. And 2 year Kettleer Mike Yastrzemski is hitting .292 on the season.

Meanwhile Notre Dame closer Dan Slania is doing what he did for Cotuit last summer, mainly close games in a dominant way. The burly righty has recorded 2 saves and a win in his 4 appearances, and in 8 innings he has whiffed 7 with a perfect 0.00 ERA.

One of my lasting memories of 2012’s team was witnessing a bullpen session with Kyle Finnegan of Texas State and Coach Mike Roberts. The pair went over several ways to throw a change up and Finnegan put the work to use in his last few starts with the Kettleers. His hard work is really paying off this collegiate season as Finnegan is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA. Most impressive is his 26 strikeouts in 17 innings as Finnegan continues to develop his electric stuff.

Let’s not forget the 2012 CCBL’s top hitter, Patrick Biondi of Michigan who’s hitting a lofty .385 thru 10 games this collegiate season. And finally Aramis Garcia, one of the country’s top defensive catchers, is currently hitting .326 thru his first 12 games with Florida International.

A couple of other quick notes to pass along as the 2013 season draws near.

• The Cotuit Athletic Association’s Board of Directors recently rewarded coach Mike Roberts with a new 3 year contract. Roberts will be coaching his 10^th consecutive year with the Kettleers this summer.
• If you happened to miss it, former Kettleer shortstop Deven Marrero was reassigned to the Red Sox minor league complex in Fort Myers after getting invited to the Sox major league camp at the start of spring training.
• Store Manager Lise Bourque says the Kettleers Store will be jammed pack with new items this summer! It’s always exciting to see the latest styles.
• Unfortunately strength and conditioning coach Sarah Money won’t be back this summer. She’s landed a wonderful full time opportunity on the West Coast.

Kettleers Korner will be anything and everything that might interest fans, past and present, about the Kettleers. Roy Reiss, who started his career working for Curt Gowdy Broadcasting, was a former sportscaster on Channel 7 and several radio stations in Boston. His son Mike now covers the Patriots for ESPNBoston.com.

Dan Slania – top relief pitcher for in CCBL 2012

College Baseball Daily contributor Seth Bernstein recently caught up with Dan Slania (Kettleers 2012), closer for Notre Dame who has two saves in three appearances while holding batters to a .133 batting average against.

You can listen to the interview from the College Baseball Daily site here.