Recently the North Fork Ospreys once again honored the Cutchogue Fire Dept & Cutchogue Fire District. On Tuesday, July 20th, at the 2nd game of a double header against the Riverhead Tomcats at the Town of Southold Cochran Park ballfield in Peconic, they asked CFD Chief Andrew McCaffery to throw out the ceremonious first pitch. (Chief McCaffery was asked to do the same honors last year about this time.)
The North Fork Ospreys are the local team that is part of the Hampton Collegiate Baseball League. The League, now in its second season, is modeled after the Cape Cod summer baseball league and is comprised of five teams. The teams feature many collegiate players hoping to make it to the major league level. Much support has been received from the community at large and many businesses these last two years, which have provided sponsorships and homes for the players for the summer. The Cutchogue Fire Department has also assisted them by providing a public address system for use at all of the Osprey's home games.
CFD Commissioner and Ex-Chief James Fogarty Sr. takes time before each game to help set up the system, and throughout the season has recruited more fans from the Fire Dept and the community to come down and watch the Ospreys play. In appreciation of the continuing support given to the Osprey's by the Cutchogue Fire Department, Chief Andrew McCaffery was invited to again throw out the first pitch at Tuesday's game.
Though he was now a veteran at this, Chief McCaffery was still concerned about getting it over home plate without a flaw. The southpaw Chief took to the mound, looked for the strike zone and then hurled the ball with respectable speed and accuracy over home plate and into the waiting glove of Osprey's catcher Kurt Schlangen. The crowd broke into applause, and Chief McCaffery breathed a sigh of relief as he greeted the Catcher and the rest of the Osprey Players. He then received the ball he pitched, complete with all of the North Fork Ospreys signatures.
The Ospreys went on to win their game against the Riverhead Tomcats, with a score of 4 to 1. (Maybe Chief McCaffery is a good luck charm to the team. Last year when throwing out the first pitch, the Ospreys won against the Southampton Breakers with a score of 9 to 1)
The North Fork Ospreys are currently leading the 2010 Regular Season Hampton Division with a record of 24 wins and 10 losses. They are 7 games ahead of the Westhampton Aviators and the Rivehead Tomcats. They play their home games at Mattituck High School and night games at the Town of Southold Cochran Park in Peconic. Admission is free, so bring the family and enjoy a great night of baseball.
The Officers and Members of the Cutchogue Fire Department would like to thank the Ospreys for honoring us, and we wish them the best of luck with their remaining games.
More Information about the Ospreys and the Hampton Collegiate League can be found here:
