HYANNIS – Fans of the Cape Cod Baseball League were at the Cape Codder in Hyannis yesterday to meet and greet the league’s ballplayers at the third annual Cape Cod Baseball Day.
Hyannis Harbor Hawk and Barnstable native Bobby Melley was among the players on hand to sign autographs and meet fans, he saId it means a lot to be a local kid playing in the prestigious Cape League.
Melley attends the University of Connecticut and plays first base on the Harbor Hawks.
Melley has his own fan club on the Cape, made up of young people who show up at all his games.
Melley was a bat boy for the Hyannis team growing up and being on a Cape League team is a thrill, he said.
“It means a lot. It’s a childhood dream of mine. . . Going out every summer night and watching the games and one day thinking hopefully I have a shot at this league and now I am. It’s great. It’s an awesome feeling,” he said.
All 10 teams in the Cape League were represented by players and organization members. Twenty-five players were on hand to sign autographs and meet with fans.
Barbara Perry of the Cape Codder came up with the idea, she said she’s seen it grow a lot in the past three years.
“We thought it would be nice to start out with just a few players so the kids in the hotel could meet the kids before they became big stars,” she said.