The Boston Red Sox defeated baseball teams from Northeastern University and Boston College yesterday in games that were totally without meaning – and yet, much of New England stopped to mark the occasions because of what they signified: the unofficial end of a long, cold winter.
Casey Kelly pitched, Jose Iglesias fielded, and Ryan Kalish hit and scored, and the Kids Were Alright as the collegians thrilled to be playing in a major league stadium (albeit a spring facility on par with those found at many Division I schools) against a major league team (albeit one that fielded players younger than themselves by games’ end).
Supporters of all three teams cheered and clapped, and in a display of cautious optimism, the whole region allowed itself to anticipate Opening Day and the season to follow.
On Cape Cod, fans in Yarmouth and Dennis whooped it up when BC third baseman (and former Y-D Red Sox) Mickey Wiswall drove a ball into the gap, only to be silenced when Kalish came out of nowhere to snare the ball on the run. Many, in fact, journeyed to Florida this week just to attend this game, and while the weather in Ft. Myers was cool, (a) it was warmer than it was here in Massachusetts, and (b) it served as a reminder that this summer’s Cape League season is closer than it lately has appeared.
So hang on, folks; we’re nearly there. Baseball’s back, and good times are on the horizon.
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