Pittsfield Suns open summer season with brightened optimism and talent
PITTSFIELD – In one of the country’s most historic ballparks, Wahconah Park, you will find a living and thriving baseball museum packed with onlookers, a glistening sun and kids running around embracing every joyous moment the park has to offer.
This summer will be no different for the Pittsfield Suns, who have embraced the New England collegiate summer baseball league for the second consecutive season, reminding us it’s not about the names on the field but rather the atmosphere in which the game is created for.
You may see, running around frantically on the sidelines, the summer interns, who will bring lots of marketing games and activities for all the kids to enjoy and try.
Those activities will be coupled with reasonable food prices and local beer offered at the concession stands, along with programs for each fan to get to know these local boys of summer.
For some, like John Kinne of Great Barrington and Mike Geannelis from Williamstown, these boys of summer get to play in front of not only the Berkshire County faithful, but also their friends and family as well.
Others, like Ryan Dietrich, Steve Dill, Rob McLam and Brendan Slattery, who are returning to Pittsfield for their second summer, give the Suns’ fans some familiarity with this 2013 team.
“I think it’s important to have guys coming back – there is a familiarity with the fans and players and we’ve made some additions. I think anyone who comes out to see us will be excited to see us play,” said first-year Manager Tom Conley.
Conley spent this past Sunday leaving his Bryant College team at the College World Series in Manhattan, Kan., to fly from Chicago to Pittsfield in order to meet with his team on Monday afternoon for their first official workout.
“It’s a relief, I had a tough travel day coming home, “ said Conley. “It’s really exciting, I feel like a ballplayer again. I am getting excited for the season, summer ball is the best.”
Conley addressed his team just outside their home dugout around noon on Monday and stressed he expects the players to interact with the fans and kids in being open and receptive to all autograph-seekers as well as to play hard every day and every play.
“We are going to give 110 percent every day, every game and every play,” Conley said. “They just have to worry about baseball and no school – they get a chance to get away from home, and it’s a really good experience for everyone.”
Kinne, who just returned from California, where his Columbia University team finished its first round at the College World Series on Sunday with a loss to Arizona State, hopes to see more playing time this summer, as the freshman recovered from Tommy John surgery his senior year of high school.
“Everyone is going to get their fair share, we will see how it plays out but everyone is going to get a shot,” Conley said.
While the focus of the Suns’ staff is providing the best possible quality family entertainment for the county, these players are hoping they can improve on last year’s record, make the post-season and hopefully add to the excitement in the City of Pittsfield this summer.
“It’s always a goal to get to the playoffs and make a run, it’s way more exciting for these guys – everyone wants to do well individually but they also want to do good as a team,” Conley said.
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