Commissioner’s Corner
2018 End of Season Report
Congratulations to the Wareham Gatemen who won their first CCBL championship since 2012. They sure did it in convincing fashion as they went undefeated sweeping their way throughout the entire playoffs to win the coveted Arnold Mycock Championship Trophy. MVP Austin Shenton (Florida International) led the Gatemen past the formidable Chatham Anglers in the finals. The final game in Chatham reported over 7,500 fans in attendance, and they were treated to the famous Chatham fog that rolled in and suspended the game. It was picked up the next day at 1 PM and Wareham put the finishing touches on their championship.
The Gatemen also won the regular season Western Division crown in a race between four teams that was so close it wasn’t decided until the last game of the season. In the playoffs, Wareham swept by the Cotuit Kettleers while the Falmouth Commodores did likewise to the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. Wareham then swept past Falmouth enroute to their showdown in the Championship Series with the Chatham Anglers.
During the regular season, the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox won the Eastern Division while also capturing the President’s Trophy emblematic of the best regular season record in the CCBL. The Red Sox ran into the streaking Brewster Whitecaps, last year’s CCBL champs in the first-round of the Eastern Division playoffs and Brewster pulled off the shocking upset. Meanwhile, the Chatham Anglers swept the Harwich Mariners setting up a Chatham/ Brewster showdown that Chatham swept to the Championship Series.
Summer highlights included the annual workout for all CCBL players at Fenway Park in Boston in front of scouting personnel from all major league teams. Our annual All-Star Game was held at Whitehouse Field in Harwich. The Harwich organization was superb hosts and offered an unforgettable day under rainy skies that delayed the start of the game, but not the enthusiasm of the very large crowd.
Each summer we have a seminar for all players featuring a presentation and hand-outs from the MLB Commissioner’s Office. Additionally, former NBA player motivational speaker Chris Herren, a Massachusetts native and resident, addressed the players about dangers and pitfalls that are in the real world. After his hour-long presentation, many in the room indicated it was by far the best presentation they had ever been part of. This was one more example of the CCBL preparing NCAA student-athletes for the next step in their baseball careers as well as life.
So, as we close out another awesome summer of baseball, there are so many folks to congratulate and thank. The list is endless, but suffice it to say that the volunteers and loyal fans continue to be the heartbeat of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and we are all so grateful for this unique and special gem we have here. We truly hope that when the players get back to school, their thoughts drift back to Cape Cod and they have as many joyful memories that they provided all of us with.
This was a great summer, with all ten teams proudly indicating what spectacular student-athletes they had. They were all very superb baseball players, but even better people, and what more could you ask? The memories from this summer will be endless and legendary. The interns, trainers, broadcasters, endless volunteers and incredible fans can be very proud to know that the summer of 2018 on Cape Cod was one for the ages.
This just doesn’t seem to cover it, but thank you one and all! See you in 2019!!
Paul A. Galop, Commissioner
