Cape Crusaders!
8/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Aug. 4, 2011
Four Rice Owls, J.T. Chargois, Tyler Duffey, Matthew Reckling and John Simms, were all selected to play summer baseball in the prestigious Cape Cod League. On the eve of that league's post-season playoffs, CCL All-Stars Chargois and Simms checked-in to give an update on their respective summer experiences, including their chance to play at historic Fenway Park.
Q) You've heard about the Cape Cod League for a long time now. How has your summer experience been in at the Cape?
J.T.: I've always heard about Cape Cod growing up, that it was the best summer league. I feel like it has exceeded my expectations.
John: Ya, it really is an amazing place to be. The whole experience is pretty much amazing. The 80 degree weather and ocean breeze doesn't hurt either.
Q) How has the competition been?
John: The competition is second to none. All of the guys up here are the best players and pitchers from the best teams from around the country. I've heard that some seem to think that this is a pitchers league but I think that is because the talent of the pitchers is so phenomenal. It is basically every team's Friday guy and go-to reliever for the most part.
J.T.: I've heard I was going to play against the best and I thought that's the truth. It's definitely been a challenge, but it's been fun.
Q) What's it been like playing alongside a whole team of the best college players in the country, where the whole league is like different all-star teams?
J.T.: That's exactly what it feels like. It does feel like the whole league is all-star players, and you have to go play against a different all-star team every day. It's been humbling to be accepted up here and get a chance to play here.
John: It really is different all of the players are good so there are no easy outs. The wood bats helped at the beginning but most of the players figured the bats out after a few weeks and the hitters really got going
Q) What has it been like to face some of your Owl teammates on the other side of the field?
John: Well for the most part I have not really gone up against any of our players since they are all pitchers but I've played against some of the guys that I played against in high school and summer ball as well as guys in our conference and that always gets the adrenaline going a little bit more.
J.T.: I have faced some of those guys and it's been funny being able to chat with them about it. Seeing them play on another team is definitely a little weird. We're all happy for each other. During the game at Fenway it was fun for John and I warming up. The bullpens are back-to-back, kind of old-school, and we'd be peeking at each other warming-up. It was fun.
Q) Has this competition and experience helped you improve, and is that something you can carry back home to Rice?
J.T.: We're always trying to improve no matter what the summer league is. I haven't been able to keep up with the other (Rice) guys this summer because it's so busy here. It's been hard to think of anything other than Cape Cod baseball. I know we can't wait to get back together and for a chance to play for another conference championship.
John: Definitely I have improved this summer on a few of the things I really had shuffled with this season and I've gotten a lot better and that will just carry over to my time at rice for this coming year.
Q) How do you feel about being named to the league's all-star game?
John: It's a great honor to be named to the all-star team here. I looked at a list of past all stars and just being named to this list puts you in some really good company like Buster Posey and Justin Smoak to name a few in recent years.
J.T.: To go to Fenway and do that was fantastic. To be lucky enough to make the all-star team and play in Fenway Park, America's most historic park, was pretty unbelievable.
Q) This was yet another Major League Stadium for you two after earlier games at Minute Maid and AT& Park last spring. How did Fenway compare?
J.T.: This has definitely been the best. It feels like it was the most special baseball field I've ever been on.
John: Playing at Fenway is one of the things you dreamed of as a kid. With the old Yankee Stadium now gone, the last two remaining old cathedrals of baseball left standing are Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. Playing in Fenway is a dream come true.
Q) How are the fans in that part of the country?
John: Let's just say it's a religion here. Everyone is a die-hard fan and it's best not to question them about it. If you are a Yankee fan in this part of the country.... `Good luck' is all I have to say.
J.T.: They know their baseball. Our town is kind of small, but we attract quite a crowd. It's fun being able to play in a league that has a fan base like this. It's different from Alaska.
Q) What's the rest of your schedule like?
J.T.: We just played our last regular season game and playoffs start tomorrow. I hope to stay as long as possible. The experience here has made the time fly-by.
John: The playoffs start August 5th and then we could be out a few days after that or as late as about august 15th but I'll be headed home shortly after we are done.
