Saturday, June 14, 2008

Liddle living the dream

Walking down Main Street on this picturesque day in mid-June, you realize how much this town has missed its ballplayers.

"It's been a long winter," says Bob Prophett, owner of Dawson Seafood. "We're ready for baseball."

Luckily for Prophett, the wait is finally over. In just a few hours, the Gatemen will square off against the Falmouth Commodores in the Cape Cod Baseball League season opener, which means summer has officially begun.

Outside the town fire station is a painted sign that reads "Gatemen home tonight 7:00 p.m." and team posters hang in store windows to remind everyone that the boys are back, as if they hadn't been counting down the days already. Sure, the players will be different, but what they represent is the same.

"I love their innocence," says Demetrios Kalkanis of Minerva Town Pizza, which has been open since 1969. "That's the greatness of it. It's pure baseball. Triple distilled, as they say."

Click here to the read the rest of my feature on Vanderbilt outfielder Steve Liddle and his experience in the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Liddle is playing for the Wareham Gatemen, while Russell Brewer and Curt Casali are playing for Hyannis, Mark Lamm and Caleb Cotham are with Brewster and Andrew Giobbi is with Harwich. I'll be catching up with these guys throughout the summer so make sure to check back here often for updates.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice story Jarred. It's linked over at TCBB.

http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2008/06/15/vu-update-on-the-cape-and-a-surprise-draft-development/

Tony Arnold said...

Great work Jarred. I am a big fan of Steve. I have the privilege of worshipping with his family and he is such a great young man. Hs dad is wonderful.

It is the quality of our student-athletes as people that makes being a Vandy alum and fan fun and something to take pride in.

Greg Viverito said...

Great storytelling, that English major is paying off. Kreyling would be proud.

Jarred Amato said...

Haha Greg, you think I should e-mail the link to Kreyling? There's no profanity and it's not about sex, so I'm not sure if he'll appreciate it.

And thanks for the kind words guys.I appreciate it.