The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks may have lost their home opener against the Valley Blue Sox 3-1 on Wednesday night, but they didn’t lose their fans.
It was Little League Night and ballplayers between the ages of seven and 12 descended on the stadium for autographs, peanuts and Cracker Jacks. Most of the kids wore their Little League uniforms representing MLB teams in miniature.
“Did you see that? He signed my ball!” said Elwood Albiston. Earlier in the night Elwood and his teammates threw out the first pitch of the Sharks 2019 season, the team’s first season ever in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Now the Little Leaguers peered through the fence behind the dugout checking out the action.
The Blue Sox were dominant throughout, although Sharks centerfielder Kai Nelson provided some excitement with a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Jack and Mary McCarthy traveled from Washington D.C. to babysit their grandson Jack this week. While Jack cavorted with players through the fence behind the dugout, Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy ate ice cream. Young Jack returned to the seats to supervise.
“Grammy make sure you share with Papa,” he said.
While some were eating ice cream, Isaac Lefebre and his mother Elise Miller were all business. Isaac tried on Sharks hats to be properly fitted for baseball season. “Saturday my team has big game to decide our place in the playoffs,” he said. “I can’t play games in my Sharks hat, but for practice it’s okay.”
This is the Miller/Lefebre family’s first year hosting a Shark player. “Our guy hasn’t arrived yet, but we know it’ll be awesome to have someone to play catch with” said Ms. Miller.
Hope Rell came to the Vineyard for a media relations job with the Sharks, but tonight Ms. Rell was corralling Little Leaguers to participate in a dizzy bat relay race.
“I get to organize fun events, just bringing everybody together is my favorite part,” she said.
As the Little Leaguers became rowdy, Ms. Rell brought over the team’s mascot Sharky, a plush Shark wearing a sombrero, to discourage misbehavior.
“Sharky is always watching,” she said.
As the game continued Sharks player Brett Marshall and his fellow pitchers roamed the stadium carrying tin buckets and rolls of red raffle tickets.
“It’s great to see the fans,” he said. “We sold a lot of raffle tickets.”
When asked if the night was going well, Mr. Marshall, who was born and raised in Louisville, Ky., replied: “Yes ma’am. Great night for baseball.”
The Sharks next home game is against the Mystic Schooners on Monday, June 10, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
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