Dan's Papers - April 17, 2009

It was quite the day for Rusty Leaver, Hamptons Collegiate Baseball president: It's not every day you break ground for a new field. At Stony Brook Southampton, nearly 100 people (members of the press, government officials, league sponsors and business owners) attended a ground breaking ceremony for league's new field. For Leaver, it truly is a field of dreams.

The baseball league is modeled after Cape Cod's baseball organization, which offers high-level professional baseball for the community. When Leaver presented the idea, it was well received by just about everyone who was asked to help build the league contributed.

It's a true story of people coming together and making something great out of nothing, and it's a testimony to the American spirit in these tough economic times.

The baseball league, which has organized teams such as the Sag Harbor Whalers, the Westhampton Aviators, the Southampton Breakers, the Riverhead Tomcats, the North Fork Ospreys and the Long Island Mustangs, is foreseen as a major source of entertainment for the community and visitors, as well as a way to stimulate economic activity and growth.

The official opening day is June 4 when the Sag Harbor Whalers play the Southampton Breakers at the new field in Southampton provided by Stony Brook at 5 p.m. The Riverhead Tomcats will be playing the North Fork Osprey's in Mattituck the same day at 5 p.m. Check out www.hamptonsbaseball.com for a schedule.

None of this would have happened if it weren't for the efforts of community leaders, business owners and activitists. Skip Norsic, of Emil Norsic and Son Inc., just couldn't wait to get started with the league and has been involved from the beginning, offering, among other things, housing for players. He smiled ear to ear at the ceremony's enormous turnout.

Standing proudly next to Norsic was Geoff Lynch of the Hampton Jitney, whose buses will sport the leagues logos on the sides, as well as take teams, for free, to the games that will be played all summer long.

State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, among others, spoke to the enthusiastic crowd before the gold shovels were broken out. Nearly a dozen politicians, delegates and leaders gave short speeches in support of the league. "Let me just step up to the plate," Thiele joked to the crowd as he made his speech, later adding, "This is going to be great for the local economy."

The new dean of Stony Brook Southampton, Mary C. Pearl, expressed her excitement about the new field. Pat Shortt, the Northeast Scouting Supervisor for Major League Baseball, as well as two major league scouts present, Larry Izzo from the Mets and Cesar Presbott from the Yankees were present. "This league will develop players for Major League Baseball," Leaver said with a tip of his hat.

Rusty is always looking for families who are interested in hosting players at their homes as well as businesses who are willing to provide part time jobs for the players. "They are all willing to work," he tells me. You can call Rusty at 631-668-3901 for more information. On April 18th this Saturday, Casey's in West Hampton will be hosting a fundraiser at their restaurant for the West Hampton Beach Aviators and the eEast End Little League. Call Casey's at 631-282-5828.

The ceremony ended with the traditional photo op of those of involved holding gold shovels to the ground. As the group dispersed, Rusty Leaver's vision became a belief for all those in attendance - a difficult task to accomplish in these times, when serious funds and political are necessary. The Hamptons Collegiate Baseball leagues are for real and are here to stay. A large scale project started by a local idea, brought to fruition with a little elbow grease, clear vision and faith.