5 July2010

Falmouth Fans Make it a Family Affair


By NICOLE ALMEIDA
CCBL INTERN

FALMOUTH ---- Whether a first time visitor or a diehard fan, the Falmouth Commodores consistently have one of the biggest and most enthusiastic crowds in the Cape Cod Baseball League.

     The Falmouth stands are really a sight to see, with kids running around playing, picnics on the green and players signing autographs.

     One group even made signs representing their organization and held it proud in the bleachers during the game. The UUFF sign really caught attention for the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth adult education class. They made the Commodores game their event of the week. One member even invited her family to join in, making the total representation 18.

     Others make it a vacation tradition. Every year, the Jones family of Falmouth comes for a week-long vacation and tries to make it to as many Falmouth games as possible. They are especially excited about this year’s roster because of the talented pitchers.

     Others come to Guv Fuller Field for the first time. The Erickson family of Falmouth took in their first game on Wednesday against the Bourne Braves and enjoyed themselves so much that they are looking into becoming a host family. 

     The Smith family of Falmouth has made games a tradition. 

     “I love coming to games, especially because they let us keep the fly balls,” Erin Smith said. 

     Her brother, Brendan, had a different approach to the games; he likes the fried dough the best. Their younger brother, Sean, enjoys watching right-hander Cecil Tanner (Georgia), his baseball coach at the youth clinic operated by the Commodores. 

     “Cecil coaches before he plays here, its fun to see him play since he’s teaching me how.”

     For most of the teams, this is how their day is spent; coaching baseball camps in the morning and playing games at night. 

     “Camps are a big part of the league,” said John Garner, head of public relations for the league.

     The camps are run by each team in the mornings before the players start their own practice and games. They start after the school year ends, with Cape League players coaching youths from 5 to 13. 

     The players are very interactive, which is part of the allure to most fans going to the games. Two players walk through the crowd at every game selling raffle tickets. Younger fans flock to their side to jump at their opportunity to meet them and get their various Cape League paraphernalia signed. At Wednesday’s game, two pitchers spent nearly 30 minutes talking with the kids and accommodating autograph requests for the awestruck young fans.

     Falmouth is definitely a family friendly field, with willing sponsors allowing the fly balls to go to the fans, and interactive players who humor the children’s requests.

 

John Garner, Jr.
Director of Public Relations & Broadcasting
(508) 790-0394
johnwgarner@earthlink.net 

Rob Duca
Web Editor / Senior Writer

rd0779@comcast.net