Happy Father's Day ... Now Let's Talk Baseball

No doubt the most important holiday on the calendar, Father's Day is the one day dad can say what he wants to do without various family members -- you know who you are -- bringing up the knee-high grass, the peeling paint, or cluttered garage.

So guys, let's talk baseball. And not the game played by millionaires as you sip a $13 beer in your $100 seat. There's a lot going on this week and Sunday's the perfect time to let your family know you won't be home for dinner.

Monday is opening day for the Lowell Spinners, the Red Sox Single A team competing in the New York Penn League. Now don't just show up to this one expecting to get a ticket. Check out the website for tickets (which cost just $10) because in addition to opening day it's the expected start for 2016 Red Sox first-round draft pick Jason Groome. If the seats are filled there will be standing room tickets available and standing at LeLacheur isn't a bad option.

Tuesday is the annual showcase of some of the state's best high school talent in the Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association North-South All-Star game. Held at BC High's Monan Park, the 7 p.m. game is filled with the stars of the recently completed MIAA tournament.

North players include Methuen's Brendan O'Shea, Malden Catholic's Kellen Field and Jake Horrigan, Lynnfield's Nick Aslanian and Justin Juliano, Austin Prep's Brendan Barry, Whittier's Cameron Camasso, Rockport's Dan Ryan, St. John's Prep's Nick Palma and Dan Frey, Reading's Corey DiLoreto, Lynn Classical's Tyler Way, Westford's Max Silverman, Belmnont's Cal Christofori, and Swampscott's Lou Olivieri.

South players are Marshfield's Josh Eastman, Greater New Bedford's Tylor Arruda, Xaverian's Dan Chapski, Walpole's Charlie Auditore, Pembroke's Connor Pijanowski, East Bridgewater's Mike Khoury, Brighton's Jordan Diaz, Mashpee's Ari Purdy and Nick Carter, Bridgewater-Raynham's Chris Phieffer, Martha's Vineyard's Jonas Lukowitz, New Bedford's Justin Baker, Sandwich's Noah Holland, and St. John Paul's Shay Souza.

Admission is $5 and from this game the top players are selected to compete in the annual Massachusetts vs. Connecticut game June 24, also at BC High. There are two games on the 24th with the Mass seniors facing their Connecticut counterparts at 11:45 a.m. followed at 2:45 with the Mass juniors facing the Connecticut juniors.

Thursday head up to Lynn and catch the North Shore Navigators take on the Bristol Blues at Fraser Field at 7 p.m. The Navigators are part of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, and this is their 10th season at Fraser Field.

Unlike the guys at Fenway, the Navs' roster is filled with local talent. Stoneham's Cam Lanzilli (Eckard) is a lefty pitcher and is joined on the staff by Reading's Sean O'Neill (Brandeis), Malden's Matthew O'Connor (UMass-Lowell), North Andover's Evan Glew (Northern Essex), Lynn's Brendan Powicki (Stonehill), Peabody's Bobby Tramondozzi (UMass-Boston), and Nahant's Albert Wallach (Framingham State). Position players include three from North Reading in catcher Keith Linnane (UMass-Amherst), infielder RJ Warnock (Ave Maria), and outfielder Jeff Mejia (UMass-Lowell). Also, there's Peabody's Traverse Briana (UMass-Lowell), Andover's Alex Brickman (Siena), Dedham's Nick Falkson (Tufts), Everett's MacDaniel Singleton (Salem State), and Beverly's Ted Leathersich.

And did I mention, tickets are $6 and you can get a craft beer without taking out a second mortgage.

So dad, these are just some of your choices. There's plenty of other great amateur baseball going including the Cape League, Park League, and Intercity League. Today's your day. It's time to speak up.

Photo by Bob Holmes