At the end of every work week, home teams across the Cape Cod Baseball League honor a local military member or first responder as the Massachusetts State Lottery ‘Hero of the Game.’
On Friday, July 19, Eric Sabatinelli got a kind of call he wasn't used to receiving. Instead of being sent to urgently help others, he was to receive praise. The Harbor Hawks honored their second Mass. State Lottery 'Hero of the Game' on the season, as McKeon Park erupted with a standing ovation in the middle of the fourth inning.
"I was immediately blown away," Captain Eric Sabatinelli said. "I'm truly humbled. I think it's great that the [CCBL] wears red shirts on Fridays."
Sabatinelli, a 30-year military veteran, currently serves as the Captain at the Centerville-Osterville-Marston Mills Fire Department. If his resume wasn't decorated enough, he is also a Lt. Colonel and Commander of the 102nd Medical Detachment of the Air National Guard.
"I'm a Hyannis native," Sabatinelli said. "I graduated high school here in 1994, and then I just went right into active duty, the Air Force right out of high school. There I became a firefighter and I did that for four years. As soon as I got out of active duty, I went right into [The Guard] at Otis."
Sabatinelli experienced several high-pressure situations across four different deployments, but it only made him stronger and inspired him to help people in need.
"I went on deployment for Operation Southern Watch to the UAE," Sabatinelli said. "We were controlling the no-fly zone. I was at the base with refuelers doing crash rescue support."
After returning home, Sabatinelli is both grateful and proud to do what he loves on Cape Cod. Although he's been a first responder for several decades, he doesn't get tired of it because he knows his job is always needed.
"Honestly, it's helping people," Sabatinelli said when asked about his favorite part of the job. "You know, I'm very fortunate that I get to do it at a professional level. Everybody can help somebody in need, you know, that's what keeps me going."
Something else that defines Friday's Mass. State Lottery 'Hero of the Game' is his love for baseball. Sabatinelli even continues to play in a men's league at McKeon Park on week nights where he patrols centerfield for his squad.
"Being from [Hyannis], I've been coming to Hawks games for a long time," Sabatinelli said. "It's just really good baseball. You know, it's great seeing these college kids trying to get to the [Pros]. It's neat seeing what they can do with the wooden bats."
The Hyannis Harbor Hawks have one more "Red Shirt Friday" against the Bourne Braves on Friday, August 2nd at McKeon Park.
"R.E.D. stands for Remember Everyone Deployed," Sabatinelli said. "It's very special what the Cape League has been doing with this kind of stuff."
Sam Fosberg can be reached at samfozsports@gmail.com and followed on Twitter/X @discussbaseball
