Fenway Day has been a tradition for generations for the Cape Cod League and on July 2nd it was the Harwich Mariners turn to live out a childhood fantasy. They traded practicing at Whitehouse Field to testing out the field at Fenway Park, giving the players a sense of what it would be like to play in a major league ballpark. As they arrived at the field, excitement grew, and it seemed less about the game, and more about the experience and creating memories that will stay with them long after summer season ends.
Fenway Day would be exciting for any ball player, but for lifelong Red Sox fans Nate Castellon, Tyler Smolinski, and Colin Larson the experience would be different. For these three Mariners, it was more memorable and surreal … a dream come true.
Nate, who grew up in California, was always a Red Sox fan, along with his father. He always hoped for the day he would be able to set foot on the field at Fenway.
“I’ve been a Red Sox fan all my life. My dad has always been a Red Sox fan too, so getting to play there was pretty special. Even just taking batting practice and feeling like a big leaguer for a day was really cool,” said Castellon.
Tyler, from Omaha, Nebraska, grew up going to the College World Series in Omaha. His Fenway Day was more about the experience itself and being able to step onto the field which he had admired growing up. Smolinski had been a Fenway fan before, but this time he was on the field rather than in the stands.
“I grew up a Red Sox fan, and I’ve been to Fenway a couple of times, but actually getting on the field was surreal. Just being able to take it all in was a dream come true,” said Smolinski.
Colin not only grew up in Boston but had already played on the field this school year, as Boston College plays in the ALS awareness game for Pete Frates every year. Returning with the Harwich Mariners, he carried the same excitement onto the field as he always had.
“I grew up going to games at Fenway, a big Red Sox fan … every time I get to step on the field, it’s really cool and a dream come true,” said Larson.
At the end of the day, the players were tired and ready to head back to their home base, but were filled with a sense of awe, after being able to swing for the Green Monster. The players didn’t leave with statistics or the crowd watching their every move, it was more important than that. They had a glimpse of what their future could look like. On July 2nd, Fenway Park wasn’t home to the Red Sox; it belonged to the Harwich Mariners.
