Shevchik, Fesh will return to lead Westerners this summer

DANBURY -- There may be a couple more attractive summertime destinations than Danbury among the New England Collegiate Baseball League's host cities -- the sandy beaches and historic mansions of Newport, R.I., perhaps, or the majestic splendor of the Green Mountains in Vermont.

But for Danbury Westerners manager Jamie Shevchik and pitching coach Sean Fesh, there's no better place to spend the summer than right here in the Hat City.

And no better way to spend the summer than playing baseball in the cozy confines of Rogers Park.

Shevchik and Fesh announced they will both be back for their fifth seasons at their respective posts. And as they chatted with fans at a team gathering at Two Steps Downtown Grille on Wednesday night, both coaches talked about how they are determined to bring Danbury its first NECBL title this summer. Entering their 18th season, the Westerners are the oldest NECBL franchise still going. They came oh-so-close to winning it all in 2010, but they dropped a 5-4 heartbreaker in the third and deciding game of the NECBL Championship Series against the North Shore Navigators. Last year, the Westerners were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by the Keene Swamp Bats.

Could this finally be the year the Westerners capture that elusive trophy?

"I would love to win a title," said Shevchik, who is just a few days away from the start of his 11th season as the head baseball coach at Keystone College in Pennsylvania. "We've come a long way since my first year here. And I think this year's team I'm the most excited about because, on paper, I think it's the most talented team we've ever had. I know games are not won on paper, but with that said, this is by far the most talented group of kids we've had. It's our job to get them to play as a team."

Shevchik is happy to be coming back to Danbury, the city that has been his summer home of sorts since 2008. What keeps him coming back?

"The people who run the organization," he said without hesitation. "They've taken care of me and my family. When you're getting paid to run an organization, that's a different story. People treat you like a business. But with all these guys being involved as volunteers, they've made me feel welcome. It's only two hours away from where I live in Pennsylvania, so it's close to home. I could go home on an off day if I needed to. The people that are involved with this organization are what makes it really special. They've treated me really well here and they've taken care of my family. That's the most important thing.

"If I can keep my wife happy," Shevchik added with a laugh, "then we're good to go. I'm here as long as my wife lets me."

And while Danbury my not have the same allure of other New England vacation destinations, it is becoming more and more a hot spot for college baseball players who hope to someday play pro ball.

After all, ballplayers aren't coming to Danbury so they can sun themselves on a beach all summer or hike up a mountain. They come here to play baseball. And in that regard, Danbury is just like every other town on the NECBL circuit. Whether it's Rogers Park in Danbury or Cardines Field in Newport, it's still 90 feet to first base and 60 feet, 6 inches from the mound to the plate. Everything else -- the beaches, the mountains -- is just window dressing.

"If you went by just talent alone, Newport wins this league every year," Shevchik said. "They've got by far the most talented team and the biggest marquee schools' names every single year. Why aren't they winning the league every year? Because the biggest thing is convincing those kids to stick it out and play hard for two months, get to the playoffs and try to win a championship."

The Westerners like the team they've assembled so far. Fans will recognize a few names, as Chase Butler, Andrew Garner and Jake Gronsky are back for a second summer in Danbury. Garner, an outfielder from Tulane, led the NECBL last year in batting with a .384 average.

"Every year, I think we get a little closer to figuring out how to construct a team for this league," said Fesh, a pitcher who was drafted right out of Bethel High School in 1991 by the Houston Astros and played 17 professional seasons. "I'm pretty excited about what can happen."

Fans can check out the Westerners' website at www.DanburyWesterners.com. Or, head down to the Danbury Arena on Friday for the Federal Hockey League game between the Danbury Whalers and the Akwesasne Warriors at 7:35 p.m. Friday is Westerners Night at the Arena.

The Westerners open the 2012 season on June 8 against the Mystic Schooners at Rogers Park.