Whether it’s pitcher Austin Wood, who was picked in the fourth round by the Tampa Bay Rays in June’s MLB draft, or Chad Wright, a star center fielder from Kentucky University, Cotuit has a lot to offer for the dozens of major league scouts that come to watch the team play.
But there are two other members of the Kettleers that are working their way to the big leagues this summer. They may not be fielding grounders or taking BP, but they certainly know the ins and outs of the baseball diamond.
Nick Coit and Nick Vennochi are broadcast journalism majors at Emerson College in Boston. And thanks to some keen initiative by Coit, the duo is now in the broadcast booth for every one of Cotuit’s Cape League games.
"My main goal is to be a baseball commentator," said Coit, who is entering his senior year at Emerson. "So I emailed a few Cape teams to see if there were any openings, and Cotuit got back to me right away."
Coit has been honing his broadcasting skills in the classroom and in extracurricular activities during his time in college, including being the voice of the Emerson Lions baseball team.
When he heard back from Cotuit, he enlisted Vennochi, his good friend and third baseman for the Lions, to call the games with him.
"I think being a player definitely gives me a bit of an edge as a broadcaster, especially when it comes to analyzing the game," said Vennochi, who calls his job in Cotuit a "dream."
The two aspiring broadcasters switch off on play-by-play and color analysis duties, but they are not just the voices behind the microphone. They are in charge of production, research and even closing up the booth after the game. The experience, Coit says, has been invaluable.
"The best part of the job is having the chance to get to know the players," Coit said. "They’re just college kids like us, but they’re the best amateur baseball players in the country."
Coit added that a Cotuit pitcher — usually the one who threw in the previous game — will come up to the booth and shoot the breeze.
"[University of California, Riverside pitcher] Matt Andriese came into the booth one time, and actually started doing color commentating," Coit said. "These guys just have so much love for the game. That’s what makes this league so awesome. This summer’s been awesome."
For Vennochi, who spends most of his time playing on the diamond, relishes in the chance to hone his broadcasting skills.
"I’m learning how to interview the players, which is a lot harder than it looks — especially after a loss," said Vennochi. "But you really can’t beat this. At one point this summer I had to stop and remember, ‘Wow, this is the Cape Cod League.’ It’s been so cool."
Come May 2011, Coit and Vennochi will be on the job market with degrees in broadcasting. And like the college stars who are trying to impress scouts on the field, the two aspiring broadcasters are boosting their resumes for their future careers.
You can follow Coit and Vennochi’s Cotuit journey on Facebook.
