PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTH SHORE NAVIGATORS
Over 3,000 fans filled Fraser Field for the Navs’ 2016 home opener.
By JOSHUA KUMMINS
LYNN — North Shore Navigators general manager Bill Terlecky said that the team’s home opener is a tone-setter for the summer ahead.
If Saturday night was any indication, it’s going to be a great summer.
After a pair of games on the road to open the Futures Collegiate Baseball League season, the Navs welcomed a franchise-record crowd of 3,523 fans to Fraser Field for their 2016 home debut against the Seacoast Mavericks.
Terlecky knows just how important a good start is, and Saturday’s game provided just that.
“We start pointing for Opening Night as early as February, and it worked,” Terlecky said. “When we took over the franchise four years ago, one of the things we wanted to do was to open with a bang every year. We just think it sets the tone for the season and creates a tremendous buzz.”
The Navs have been a crucial part of the FCBL’s overall attendance increase over the last few seasons, averaging more than 1,100 fans a year ago. Terlecky’s franchise has seen its individual numbers increase each year since 2013.
Expectations for the start of a new season are always high, but this start even surpassed Terlecky’s expectations.
“I knew we were going to be big, but I didn’t think it was going to be the biggest crowd we’ve ever had,” Terlecky said. “What happened was with the way that we promote Opening Night, coupled with the fact the Navs are much more popular than they were three or four years ago, those two worlds collided.”
The first ceremonial pitch of the season is also an important thought before every home opener.
This year, the team held a special pre-game ceremony honoring first responders and veterans.
Lieutenant Kevin Downey of the Lynn Fire Department, Bob Ferrari of the Lynn Police Department, and Yari Dejesus of the Lynn Housing Authority’s Veterans Team were all on hand to represent their departments by throwing first pitches, joining Iraq veteran Mike Chalmers.
Downey was the first ceremonial pitcher, and excited to take part in the festivities with the team that has become a crucial part of the North Shore community.
“It was a great honor to be selected,” said Downey, who played baseball at Classical. “I’ve thrown a lot of pitches in this stadium, but there were definitely some nerves.”
“We’ve had a few other teams come through here that did fairly well, but the Navigators seem to be sticking. They’re very involved around the community and it’s great to see.”
It was a night the Navs had never seen before, and a crowd multiple times bigger than those most of the team’s new players see during their collegiate seasons.
Pitcher Cam Lanzilli impressed in the game, striking out six Mavericks over four scoreless innings of relief. The UMass Lowell rising sophomore and Stoneham native couldn’t help but just take it all in as he stepped onto the mound for the first time.
“I came running out from the bullpen and I was a little jacked up and a little nervous,” Lanzilli said. “I ran out to the mound and took a look at the crowd. But after that I completely blocked it out, and it was just me throwing to (catcher) Kyle (Devin).”
Lanzilli’s pitching is one of the definite positives to be taken out of the Navs’ first three games, despite a 0-3 start.
Starting strong is a bonus in summer collegiate baseball, where players join together from all across the country, from schools near and far, big and small.
Winning can take a bit of time, and the Navs know it will come. The Navs were winless through three games last year before going on to set a single-season franchise record with 33 victories, including 18 in front of the home crowd.
“We’re definitely seeing some positive things,” manager John Zizzo said. “I’m seeing some really good things with the pitching. Some guys are hitting the ball hard and running into a little bit of tough luck, but we’ll get there.”
Zizzo probably summed up the night best.
“I thought everything was great, except for the fact that we lost,” Zizzo said. “It was an outstanding night at the park for the Navs.”
The tone, as Terlecky put it, has been set. Now, they just play ball.
—
The Navs fell, 4-0, to the Seacoast Mavericks on Opening Night. In addition to Lanzilli’s excellent relief effort, Southern Maine’s Jake Dexter tossed a scoreless frame in the ninth.
Joey Pena (St. Thomas Aquinas) and Dylan Gutierrez (Frederick Community College) combined for four of the Navigators’ six hits.
Sunday’s matchup with Seacoast was postponed due to rain. The Navigators will resume action on Tuesday.
