15 June 2006

Tim Ellstrom is always there to pitch in

One after another, they trekked to the microphone. 

The time: Sunday morning 

The place: The 99 Restaurant in Yarmouth. 

The occasion: The First Pitch Brunch. 

WEII sportscaster Pete Shepherd: "It’s the greatest amateur baseball league in the country, maybe in the world." 

Cotuit Kettleers manager Mike Roberts: "It’s the best amateur coaching job in the world. No grades to worry about, no recruiting, if they mess up you can put ’em on a bus and send ’em home." 

Bourne Braves manager Harvey Shapiro: "The Cape League is a national treasure." 

Defending champion Orleans Cardinals manager Kelly Nicholson: "It’s a little slice of heaven up here on Cape Cod." 

Sounding like over-the-top TV testimonials, these accolades weren’t touting automobiles or wireless phone services, they were praising the Cape Cod Baseball League. 

League commissioner Paul Galop wasn’t idly boasting as he announced that the top six players drafted last week by major league teams all had played in the Cape League. That was fact. 

Nor did league president Judy Scarafile overstate the proud tradition of this college summer league, which has produced nearly 40 percent of major league players over the years. 

She describes the league as "families, summer, baseball and Cape Cod." 

It’s a league built by volunteers: People who work 12 months a year to earn the well-deserved reputation of "The Best." 

And it was one of those volunteers - Tim Ellstrom of Centerville and the Hyannis Mets - whom the Cape Cod Baseball League honored during the brunch by announcing he will receive its Lifetime Achievement Award at the league’s November Hall of Fame ceremonies. 

"Tim was nominated by several people," said league vice president Phil Edwards, head of the Hall of Fame selection committee. "If we asked him to do anything for the league, he’d do it. He’s worked for the Mets in all capacities, and he’s been faithful to the organization; that’s what we feel the award is all about." 

Added Scarafile, "Tim is the epitome of lifetime achievement. He’s always there to pitch in. He does everything from announcing to helping condition the field to putting up banners." 

The 54-year-old Ellstrom moved to the Cape in 1978, went to a Mets game in 1979 and got hooked. "I started by passing the hat at games," he said., "and I’ve done everything from announcing to equipment storage, general manager and president. The only job I won’t do is treasurer. I don’t want to deal with money!" 

A self-described "baseball nut," he retired after 25 years with the telephone company - "New England Telephone, AT&T, Verizon. Take your pick," he laughed. He now works for Olympia Sporting Goods, and for the Hyannis Mets. 

Edwards praised Ellstrom, saying "He does everything with a smile on his face. It was a unanimous vote." 

Roberts quoted the words of the late Jackie Robinson to describe what the Cape League means to him: "A life is not important except for the impact it has on other lives." 

That’s true of the Cape League, and its volunteers like Tim Ellstrom.