4 Behind the Scenes Players of the YD Red Sox

With the closing of the regular season this past Saturday, the YD Red Sox head into the 2013 Cape Cod Baseball League playoff season starting Tuesdsay, August 6 away at Chatham. With only a few short and tentative weeks left in the teams summer, it is adequate timing to take note of some of the behind the scenes players that make everything on and off of Red Wilson Field run smoothly.

The Cape Cod Baseball League itself is a non-profit organization. No entrance tickets are sold at the games and as noted a while back, the whole institution revolves around the generosity and support of the communities involved. Moreover, it's the commitment and hard work of the volunteers on each team that make every summer season run smoothly. 

Take a look at 4 of the YD Red Sox behind the scene teams that make each game, event, and overall season become what they are each summer:

The Broadcast Booth

The Broadcast Team is an invaluable part of the YD Red Sox. Not only do they take care off all the technical factors that go into each game including scoreboard, announcing, and music, but they are also responsible for bringing the games to fans at home who could not make it out to the home games via live internet broadcasts, free of charge. This job requires a ton of work, not only at the games but at home as well. 

The team is compromised of three college interns, all with hopes of someday working for professional sports teams in some way or another. In addition to broadcasting the games, these interns put together game highlights, write up news articles, update the teams social media (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube), and put together team footage. 

YD Broadcast Internt Ryan Gallant in the Press Box

The most legendary broadcast character is Joe Rubin, the teams announcer. Joe has been announcing for the YD Red Sox since 2003. His commitment to the team is one of passion, and he makes each game an enjoyable one for all visitors to Red Wilson Field. 

Long time YD Red Sox Announcer Joe Rubin 

Next time you're at a YD Red Sox game, turn your heads up to the press box and give these volunteers a round of applause. 

Host Families

Few remember that the boys who come out to play for the YD Red Sox are in fact college kids. They spend their summers away from their homes, families and friends, which at times can be tough. However, the team is lucky enough to have a team of host families who open their doors to the players, providing them with meals, transportation, beds, and truly the love of a family. 

YD Red Sox Catcher Wayne Taylor and host family

YD Red Sox Pitcher Kevin McAvoy and host family 

Prior to the last game on Saturday, YD honored the host families; each family lined up with their players, arms linked in a chain that covered the entire third baseline. The hospitality and endearment of the folks that make up these units is part of what keeps the players grounded throughout the summer. They come to all the games, provide constant support, and give back to the YD Red Sox selflessly. It goes without saying that the franchise, team, and fans are so appreciative of them.

College Interns

Another facet of the YD Red Sox volunteers is the College Intern unit. Similar to the to players, these college interns join the YD Red Sox community in efforts to work on their future careers whether it be as sports managers, media coordinators, or heading a non-profit. Being an intern for YD is a great overall learning experience and covers a lot of fields of interest providing a great summer experience.

YD Intern Nick C. leading the kids raffle

YD Interns Katie C. and Britt B. working the merchandise tent at the 2013 All Star Game

But beyond this, the interns at their core are volunteers. Thus, they are part of the well oiled machine that is every YD home game. They are in charge of all of the jobs that go on at the games including selling 50/50 raffle tickets, face painting, working in the concessions stand, assisting in merchandise, cleaning up the field, and overall making sure that the games are more than just a team on a field; they're a summer activity that people enjoy coming to. 

The Executive Committee and Board Members

And finally, the engine that fuels the entire franchise is the Executive Committee and Board Members. These folks are the people who manage everything from budgets to buying food for concessions to field maintenance and beyond. They oversee the entire season making sure that everything runs smoothly. Without them, the YD Red Sox would not exist. Each season, the board goes above and beyond volunteering their summers solely with a passion for the sport, team, and organization. 

Our hats go off to the executive committee and board members. One can not stress enough their importance to the team. 

Next Time You're at a YD Red Sox Game...

Think about the amazing people behind the scenes. Give them a special round of applause and tip your hats towards the volunteers who make your favorite summer past time a possibility. And of course, we thank you, our fans, for always donating and being the biggest support to the team. 

Now onto the playoffs! Go YD Red Sox and be sure to come out to Red Wilson Field on Wednesday, August 5th for game two of our playoff series against the Chatham Anglers! 

Five Things To Do At A YD Red Sox Baseball Game, Besides Watching the Game

Every YD Red Sox game is an opportunity for fans, vacationers, and baseball aficionados alike to enjoy a good summertime ball game. On home game days, crowds flock to Red Wilson Field expecting  nine innings of solid, college league baseball. This in itself is a great reason to head out to the next game. However, for those who may not have interest in baseball or aren't sure whether it will be a good activity to take the family, we can assure you that a YD Red Sox game is not something to miss while on Cape Cod.

Check out five reasons to come to a YD Red Sox Game, other than actually watching the game:

1) Participate in the 50/50 Raffle!

Every game is an opportunity for a win; especially on the part of the fan. The 50/50 Raffle is legendary in the Cape Cod Baseball League. At YD, buying a ticket means a chance to win prizes ranging from free rounds of mini-golf at Pirate's Cove to a Cape Cod Canal Cruise to ferry tickets from Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard. And of course, there's the grand prize of money!! The title speaks for itself: half of the money from the raffle ticket sales go back to the team, and the other half is a money prize for one lucky winner. In this season alone, a winner has gone home with just short of $700 dollars in a regular season game. The more you spend, the more you win. So next time you're at Red Wilson Field, keep your eye out for volunteers in red shirts carrying blue buckets, alongside a helping player, and buy yourself a ticket!

An intern and player selling 50/50 raffle tickets

2) Check Out This Season's Latest Team Gear at the Merchandise Tent

Just behind home plate, beneath the press box is the home to the YD Red Sox Merchandise tent for the best apparel on Cape Cod. There are t-shirts for souvenirs, sweatshirts for cold games, hat's just like the players wear, scarves for winter, koozies for your beverages, necklaces for your daughters, and baseballs to get signed by the future MLB players. And the best part, all the proceeds go back to YD and the Cape League. Definitely pick up this seasons YD Red Sox attire at the next game. 

YD Red Sox Nantucket Red Hat Logo

3) Test Your Own Skills: How Fast Can You Throw?

Just beyond the third base line is the batting cage where during the pre-game, viewers can watch the team practice. However, as soon as the Red Sox take the field, the cage is turned into a game of How fast can you pitch? For $1.00, you can step up to the mound and see how fast you can throw three pitches. A radar gun tests your speed; so far, the fastest fan pitch has been 85 MPH. Can you beat this? Take a turn next game! Who knows, maybe one of the many scouts will identify you as the next MLB all star!

Are you the next YD Red Sox Pitcher?

4) Get Your Face Painted!

Right next to the batting cage is the YD Red Sox very own face painting stand. Who doesn't love getting their face painted while on vacation, or even just for fun? Whether you want a simple "YD" on your cheek, or a more intricate design like a butterfly or lizard, YD games are a perfect place to sport a temporary feature. Even better, it's a free activity at each game, although donations are appreciated. Definitely don't miss this creative booth at your next game! 

A YD Intern paints faces at a YD Red Sox Home Game

5) Dare to Dine on a YD Donut Burger: Eat a Hurler, Sinker or Screamer!

For an affordable, fun and filling dinner on Cape Cod, there's no better place to eat than the YD Red Sox concession stand along the first base life. Of course, there is an array of your standard baseball grub--pizza, hot dogs, popcorn, and sausage and peppers to name a few--but on another level are the YD Donut Burgers. You can read all about them by clicking here! Consider yourself a true fan and upgrade to a Donut Burger at your next game. Your taste buds won't be sorry! 

The "Boston Screamer" YD Red Sox Donut Burger

So there you have it! Don't miss another home game for the YD Red Sox at Red Wilson Field!!

Keep these five fun activities in mind for the next time you head over to a game! Leave a comment below and tell us what your favorite part of a YD Red Sox baseball game is. We'd love to hear from our fans!

YD Red Sox 2006 Champion Team: Where Are They Now?

3 Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox Alumni to Make it Big in the Majors

I've said it once, and I'll say it again: the YD Red Sox help make dreams come true. It is no secret that the Cape League is designed to funnel players from college divisions into the major leagues. In total, the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox have successfully farmed many players into the major leagues. These players are the ones whom the current team aspires to be. 

While all are noteworthy, let's focus on the YD alumni from the 2006 Cape Cod Baseball League Championship team. Three players from that team made it to the majors that year: David Robertson, Gordon Beckham, and Buster Posey. Today, their careers lie in the realm of their dreams. However, even more inspiring is how these three men have chosen to give back to their communities. They are more than just talented ball players; they're genuine men.

Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox 2006 CCBL Championship Team

David Robertson

A pitcher from Birmingham, Alabama, David Robertson joined the YD Red Sox in late June of 2006 after leading his University of Alabama team to their 25th SEC Championship. He had already been drafted by the New York Yankees, but opted to take one final summer playing on an amateur field. That summer, Robertson pitched the Sox to winning their own championship, and was named MVP of the Cape League playoffs.

David Robertson: A Yankee who came from the Red Sox 

After a few years in the minors, Robertson began his major league career on September 13, 2008. He is still with the Yankees today, and was a part of the 2011 All Star Team. Beyond baseball, Robertson also founded a charity that gives back, High Socks For Hope. It is a non-profit organization that raises money to support victims of natural disasters, such as the 2011 Alabama tornadoes.

Gordon Beckham

In 2006, Gordon Beckham arrived on Cape Cod as a rising sophomore after being named an All American Freshman from University of Georgia. As an infielder, Beckham was an overall solid player, helping the Red Sox make it to their second CCBL championship in three seasons.

Gordon Beckham, from the Red Sox to the White Sox

Beckham has since changed the color of his "sox" as he now plays for the Chicago White Sox. In the 2008 MLB draft, he was chosen eighth overall by his current team, and spent a year playing in the minors. On June 3, 2009, only three years after his arrival for his season with the YD Red Sox, Beckham began his official career as a major league baseball player.

Since his time at YD, Beckham has hit countless home runs, been a solid third baseman, and was named the American League Rookie of the Year in 2009. More importantly, he is the founder of Out of the Park, a charity that hopes to "raise awareness and support to help end Parkinson's disease". So far, the organization has raised over $120, 000 for the National Parkinson's Fund. 

Buster Posey

Buster Posey joined the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in 2006 as a shortstop, showing great promise. Walking away as a CCBL champion that summer, he returned to Florida State for another collegiate season. Unlike the other 2006 players, Posey returned to YD for the 2007 season, this time as a catcher. With one championship title under his belt, Posey took charge and led the Red Sox to another league win. He is among the few YD Red Sox who saw back to back CCBL championships.

With much promise, Posey was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 2008 MLB Draft, as fifth overall pick. So far, his career in the majors has been nothing short of outstanding. In 2010, he was named the National League Rookie of the Year. That season, the SF Giants won the World Series, giving him another title ring. Then, in 2012, after recovering from a 2011season ankle injury, Posey joined the Giants in their second World Series win in three years. From this, he won many awards including National League MVP and NL Comeback Player of the Year.

Buster Posey: CCBL and MLB two time champion

Buster Posey without a doubt has a bright future and an already noteworthy career. During his time on Cape, he was well known for being a polite and bright young man. Today, Posey gives back to his community by giving $50, 000 annually to a charity that the Giants support.

The YD Red Sox Enjoy a Day at Fenway Park

With the first day of July came the end of the first month for the YD Red Sox 2013 season. These boys have been playing their hearts out as well as giving back to their community in more ways than one. With so much hard work and a winning streak on their heels, the team headed up to Boston for a day none of them would ever forget.

Fenway Park press box

View of the Green Monster from the visitor dugout 

The John Hancock Sign welcoming the Cape League 

Each year, Fenway hosts a day for players, scouts, coaches, interns, and family to get an inside look into what a day in the majors is really like. Scouts and family alike sit in the coveted wooden seats of the grand stand behind home plate, observing these talented young men showing off their skills in batting practice, speed training, and infield/outfield workouts.

However, Fenway for these boys was more than just a chance to be observed; it gave them a taste of what it would be like to be an MLB player. With the Green Monster looming 310 feet in front of them, and the John Hancock sign high above their heads, the team was no longer just a group of boys playing on amateur fields; they were a team of potentials; excited, motivated and deserving of this experience. YD Red Sox returning catcher Wayne Taylor (27) from Stanford University spoke about his experience saying,

“It was unbelievable. I’ve been to a game at Fenway and it was incredible. But then actually being on the field was unreal; standing in the outfield next to the Green Monster and looking at the stands, it’s just a pretty cool experience. It was such a blast and such a blessing. Everyone knows that is the dream to one day be able to play there. It was definitely one of those opportunities I’ll remember for the rest of my life.” 

Catcher Wayne Taylor (27) before batting practice

Wayne Taylor during Batting Practice 

Taylor and Coach Domingo Ayala 

Like Taylor, outfielder DJ Stewart (42) a rising sophomore at Florida State University felt equally as grateful to be a part of the Fenway Park legend.

"That day really brought me closer to my dream. Getting to work out on that field was a great experience for me. I mean, not too many people can say that they’ve had that experience. It’s just a blessing from God, that my hard work and dedication to the game has gotten me closer to my dream...And the coaches, they’re just telling us the whole time to just have fun with it. Like I said before, not many people get this experience so we just went out there and had fun. Played catch, ran down baseballs, ran the sixty, and hit. It was like the kid and the candy store right there for us.”

 YD Red Sox players Cole Peragine (SS), DJ Stewart (CF), and Taylor Gushue (C) watching their teammates take batting practice

DJ Stewart swings for the Green Monster during batting practice 

DJ Stewart and sportswriter Peter Gammons talk baseball at Fenway

At the end of the day, the team drove away from Boston feeling excited, grateful, and one step closer to reaching their dreams of playing in the major leagues. Meanwhile, the players were not the only ones who got a glance at what a career in the majors could be like. Each summer, the YD Red Sox host a team of interns who get to experience everything that goes on behind the scenes of the game. Chris Gilmore, a rising senior at the University of Georgia, is one of the three broadcast interns for the Sox. 

At Fenway, he was able to meet some of his career idols including sportswriter Peter Gammons and ESPN columnist Buster Olney. Gilmore talked about his day on the other side of the lens, saying that being granted an official press pass to a professional field solidified his feeling that a career in sports was his calling. 

"When I realized that I didn't have a future in the sport of baseball, I wanted to do the next best thing, I had to be a part of sports. I remember as a kid I would see guys come into the stadium with a press credential on and having one myself made me feel like I actually belonged there and that was what I was meant to do. Being able to walk into Fenway with a real press credential was really cool."

Chris Gilmore and Coach Domingo Ayala 

YD Red Sox interns with ESPN columnist Buster Olney 

Gilmore sporting his press pass on the Fenway Park dugout

Not one member of the YD Red Sox, players and interns alike, walked out of Fenway Park feeling anything short of fulfilled. It goes without saying that the members of the team both on and off the field were so thankful to have experienced what a day in a major league environment is like. This is just one more example of how amazing a summer with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox really is.

The John Hancock sign announcing the Cape Cod Baseball League 

Catcher Taylor Gushue enjoying his batting practice 

Pitcher Jordan Minch during fielding practice 

YD Red Sox strike a pose before batting practice 

YD Red Sox interns sporting press credentials 

Some of the YD Red Sox during batting practice 

Thanks Fenway Park for the recognition of the Cape Cod Baseball League

Thank you Fenway Park for a great day!

YDRS

Let's Play Ball!

Anyone who ventures over the canal and onto Cape Cod during the summertime can easily expect full days at the beach, countless cones of ice cream, multiple rounds of mini-golf, and nights dining on burgers, lobster, and chowder. However, what few realize is that they also have easy access to another summer season past time: baseball.

Cape Cod is the home of the Cape Cod Baseball League, an amateur league that recruits the nation's top college level players. The league gives these young men a chance to practice and play throughout the entire summer, as well as expose them to major league scouts in the hopes of recruitment. Founded in 1885, it is America's most prestigious summer league, consisting of 10 teams with rosters boasting extremely talented athletes.

Yet what is most exciting about the league goes much further than the sport itself. As cheesy as it may sound, the Cape Cod Baseball League helps make dreams come true. Every summer, a handful of players get drafted into the minors, pushing them one step closer to their ultimate goal of becoming professional baseball players. Through this, the league inspires; people of all ages come out game after game to root on their town's team, not only in hopes of a win, but in support of these kids.

And while every team is unique, there is something particularly special about the towns of Yarmouth and Dennis' team, the YD Red Sox. Every year, the Red Sox push beyond the boundaries of their dugout and almost seamlessly unite with their hosting community. From volunteering at events like the Yarmouth Summer Celebration Kick Off, to hosting morning clinics for youth players, YD becomes a part of the town during the summer.

With the 129th season underway, the YD Red Sox are starting to find their rhythm. This team is a promising one, with players from all over the country including Nevada, California, Oregon, and New York. Currently, they hold a record of seven wins, eight losses, and one tie after a tough loss against the Wareham Gatemen last night. But with a home game ahead of them tonight at the beautiful Red Wilson Field, the Sox are hoping for a win to ring in tomorrows holiday.

Overall, it's easy to be a fan for a team as special as YD. This blog is just one more outlet for you to be drawn even farther into this outstanding community. Here, you will be able to go beyond the play by plays. You will get a chance to meet your players, coaches, interns, and fans, as well as learn about special events, view photo galleries from games, and overall become a part of the team.

Thanks for the support and stay tuned!

YDRS