By Roy Reiss
May 25, 2014
The Grenier Family with Joel Seddon, August 2013 – Patrick (left), Gina, and Adam.
On a beautiful Sunday afternoon on a holiday weekend, there’s no better place to visit than picturesque Lowell Park. The “field of dreams” is looking almost ready for the 2014 season to start. The grass is freshly cut, the work on the dugouts and new 3rd base bleachers is quiet on this weekend day, there’s peace and tranquility at the Cape’s baseball jewel.
Suddenly two people approach and start talking about the upcoming season. Gina and Patrick Grenier of Sandwich are taking a break from yard work and catching up on their Kettleers memories. For 20 or more minutes we talk about how much they’ve enjoyed housing players over the years. There was Levi Hyams (Georgia), Ryan Connolly (Coastal Carolina) and Joel Seddon (South Carolina) to name just a few. There were others who’d be temporary players like Kollin McMillan, and the experience was just as rewarding.
They talk about how two players who didn’t know each other from different schools and different years were just happening to meet in a Double A game, and how they sent emails to both reminding them they were ultimately connected since they stayed with the Greniers in Forestdale.
There was the trip to Columbia, South Carolina this past winter to reunite with Seddon and stay with his parents who were so grateful for the wonderful experience their son had in Cotuit last season. The elder Seddon mentioned how much confidence his son gained working with Coach Mike Roberts last summer and how it paid off this collegiate season with the South Carolina Gamecocks.
The memories are plentiful, the experience something you simply can’t purchase. This is what the Cape League is all about and it’s almost time to usher in a new season for its many fans. As Pat Grenier said on this sun splashed afternoon “real baseball is about to start!”
Alumni Quickies –
- Pitcher Chris Ellis (2013) had quite a season for the Ole Miss baseball team. The big right hander went 9-1 in his 15 starts with a 2.17 ERA …
- Righty Nick Tropeano (2010) is at Triple A Oklahoma City, the highest Houston Astros farm team this summer. Nick has posted an impressive 2.63 ERA thru his first 11 appearances and is listed among the top 20 prospects in the Houston system …
- Catcher Nolan Clark (2013) was named to the Golden State Athletic Conference All Star team and earned a Gold Glove award as well …
- Kevin Ziomek (2011-2012) is in his 2nd year with the Tigers organization. Ziomek is 3-5 at Single A West Michigan of the Midwest League …
- Mike Ford (2012-13) had quite a night recently for the Class A Charleston RiverDogs team. The former Kettleer slugged 4 consecutive homers in a game, tying a South Atlantic League record …
- Tony Kemp (2012) is off to a very quick start with the Lancaster JetHawks of the California League. Kemp is opening some eyes in the Houston system as he’s off to a .343 batting average and running the bases like he was back at Lowell Park …
- Finally very nice to see Dusty Isaacs (2011) being interviewed on national TV during the recent Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. The Georgia Tech product had an impressive senior season working out of the Yellow Jackets bullpen.
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.