The Difficulties Of Playing On The Cape

The current Cardinal players are coming off an emotionally draining spring semester. Since January, they have grinded through the grueling NCAA baseball schedule that can exhaust players at any level. Combine that with a full time class schedule, and you can see the strength that is needed to get through the spring. For some college athletes, the summer is a time to relax. However, for a serious baseball player taking a break is not an option. After all, these guys are here on the Cape because baseball is an integral part of their lives. The game they love to play is a priority all year long.

For the Cardinals, it is a big adjustment when their respective college season ends and they jump into a new season a few days later. It is equally as challenging for the coach to get his team in the right mindset in order to make their individual talents blend together. This leads to a common question that every team in the CCBL tries to answer. How do you mold your talented roster into a winning team?

“We have a few guys who have played together in either college, high school, or previous summer leagues. That helps out a bit, but the one thing these players have in common is winning. That common goal will always bring a team together,” said Coach Kelly Nicholson.

Two Cardinal leaders are coming to the Cape as current collegiate teammates. Dennis Raben and Mark Sobolewski are currently leading Orleans at the plate, just as they were doing last month for the Miami Hurricanes. On June 3^rd, Miami had its great season come to an abrupt end in the Columbia, MO regional. That game concluded a grueling 61 game schedule (37-24) over a three-month period while traveling through much of the east coast. Needless to say, team chemistry forms quickly on a college team. With classes, practices, and pre-season workouts, competitive friendships are formed that carry over onto the diamond. 

Unfortunately, it is not that easy on Cape Cod. Players come in from all over the country and immediatley start playing regular season games for the club. It becomes a challenge to gel together as you would with your college teammates.

“It’s a tough adjustment when you start up a season with a new set of teammates. We have a lot of guys from the west coast who I have never played with before,” said Raben. “It’s fun getting to know these guys and competing with them every day”. Raben attributed the coaches as main contributors to the team’s early success. “The coaching staff is laid back and they keep things fun. As a player, that is what you want when you are adjusting to a new team.”

Coach Nicholson has had a knack in creating success for the Cardinals since he started as the pitching coach in 2001. His coaching style clearly rubs off on his players and it shows up on the field. With championships in 2003 and 2005 Coach Nicholson knows that the common goal of winning is a great way to bring his players closer as a team. 

“They know there is nothing like a dog-pile after you win a championship”