Y-D catcher and CCBL All-Star Mateo Serna (Alabama) couldn’t hold back his tears after the season-ending, 7-6 loss against the Harwich Mariners in game two of the East Division Championship. He was sad about the loss, but was also focused on soaking up the final moments of the best summer he’s ever had.
“We didn’t win, but I felt like I won the experience of being in the Cape finally,” said Serna.
His dream of playing in the Cape Cod Baseball League came true. As a switch-hitter and a staple of Y-D’s lineup all season, Serna finished with a .300 batting average, a .388 on-base percentage, and a .500 slug across 26 games. Still, his glowing statistics aren’t his only takeaway from the summer. He also learned something new about himself.
“[I learned] how I like to go about the game and enjoy [it]. What happens in the game doesn't really matter…you gotta be enjoying life to play well. So I finally was able to enjoy where I'm at. It was great. Best summer of my life, 1,000%.” said Serna.
Other than having this realization, what made Serna’s summer so special were the relationships he formed with his host family, his teammates, and Y-D bat boy Brady MacNeil.
For Y-D utility player Phoenix Call (UCLA), the loss against Harwich concluded his second summer with Y-D. In the elimination game, Call struck out with the bases loaded, with one out, down by one run in the top of the ninth. Although Call was disappointed, he didn’t let that bury his gratitude for the season.
“I feel terrible, but I feel really grateful. I think there's a lot of good people. I think more than anything, I'm just grateful for the people I met. There's great baseball here, obviously, but a lot of good people. I think I really enjoyed this summer, no matter the outcomes,” said Call.
Call led the League with 15 hit-by-pitches at the time of the last game. His .358 on-base percentage combined with his .218 batting average highlight his talent for getting on base however possible. Other than developing his unique playing style, Call also grew as a baseball player and person.
“When you're 3,000 miles away from home, you learn a lot about yourself. I think the people around me really helped me out, so I’m just grateful,” said Call.
Even CCBL All-Star Tommy Goodin, who led the League in the regular season with 31 RBI, ranked fifth with a .508, and sixth with his five home runs, learned something this summer.
“The biggest thing I took away from this is the grit and the grind of everyday baseball. Every day is a new day, no matter what happened [before]. It was probably the best summer I’ve ever had,” said Goodin.
Goodin was also disappointed about the loss, despite homering in the fifth inning to give Y-D a 5-2 lead.
“I really wanted to win. I love [my teammates], so I wish we could have pulled through, but, you know, it's baseball,” said Goodin.
Y-D’s 28-year manager, Scott Pickler, also wanted badly to win the final game.
“We should be playing tomorrow,” Pickler said.
Despite his frustrations, he acknowledged the highly respectable season the team had.
“[The novelty of coaching] never wears off. We like to get guys better. That's all it's about. I get to do it with really good players. They're as good as any kids I've ever had,” said Pickler.
Assistant Coach Craig Giannino put what everyone learned into perspective. He has respect for those vulnerable enough to play the game of baseball, especially at this level, and was grateful for the opportunity to coach this group, he said.
“When you think about the design of baseball, it's designed to embarrass you. It has no feelings. It doesn't care about you. So if you don't respect this game, this game has a funny way of humbling you. So I'm just proud of the courage these guys have,” said Giannino.
