Three balls, two strikes, two outs, bottom of the ninth. The Plymouth River Eels have stepped up to the plate. They've taken a swing and the ball has started heading out of the park.

Plymouth's first independent league baseball team is inches away from hitting a grand slam. After getting a unanimous standing ovation from the board of selectmen, the River Eels have only two more major steps in front of them before they can start celebrating their big hit.

"We've been through a number of committees," said Mike Rothberg, vice president of business development for Bay Colony Baseball and Athletics, LLC, which owns and operates the River Eels. "We met with all the neighbors last fall, the West Plymouth steering committee last year and this year. The board of selectmen voted 5-0 in favor of the project. We're extremely excited."

Rothberg, President and CEO Tom O'Brien, Director of Marketing Erik Christensen, and Vice President of Facilities Development Phil Ricardi, introduced the team at a November press conference. Their proposal of a three-phase project included a sports facility, a baseball stadium, and a banquet/convention hall. The project would sit on 28.1 acres of land behind Wal-Mart and Sam's Club in Colony Place off Exit 7.

"This project will be beneficial to the entire town and the entire region, the Route 3 belt, the South Shore," Rothberg said. "To have professional baseball in America's hometown would be huge. It's a huge opportunity for the town and the region as a whole. It's about creating a center focal point in Plymouth."

"The planning board focuses on the stereotypical planning board issues, buffer, traffic, lighting requirements," Rothberg said. "Our intention is that we'll adhere to those requirements."

Phase one of the project, a sports facility that could accommodate lacrosse, soccer, field hockey, and indoor golf, may open later this year if everything goes according to schedule.

"We're prepared for any bumps in the road, but our intention is to break ground this summer," Rothberg said. "We'd like to have the facility up and operational come fall."

The 5,500-seat baseball stadium, phase two of the project, would attract the most attention, according to Rothberg.

"(The land) is shaped like a bowl," he said. "We're planning to put the baseball stadium right smack dab in the middle of the bowl."

A banquet facility and restaurant would make up the final phase of the project. But for now, excitement continues to build at the thought of having professional baseball right here in Plymouth.

The town hasn't fielded a baseball team that's played higher than the American Legion level in more than 35 years (the Plymouth Cordage Company's semi-pro baseball team disbanded in the late 1960s). Independent league baseball hasn't come closer than Brockton, where the Rox have played since 2002.

"People are excited," Director of Public Relations Janette Jaynes said. "I'm excited. I just think it's a win-win situation for Plymouth."

Jaynes said that locals look forward to the inaugural season, which may begin as early as May 2007. Some have even approached her about joining the team, not in behind-the-scenes roles, but as players.

"I was at Sean O'Toole's on St. Patrick's Day and my friend was telling some people I was with the River Eels," Jaynes said. "Ten guys came up to me and wanted to try out."

Jaynes, a member of the River Eels organization for the past four months, will deal with the media as part of her public relations role. She has a background in marketing and public relations that dates back more than 10 years. She currently works fulltime at Mayflower Bank as the marketing and public relations director.

"Everyone knows about the River Eels, and everyone seems really excited," said Jaynes, who also eagerly awaits opening day. "I'm a huge, huge baseball fan. I say that Fenway is my second home. I've been to at least 200 Red Sox games. And a lot of people say that instead of traveling to Brockton and Boston, they can stay and watch baseball right here in there back yard."

As River Eels fever begins to spread throughout the region, interest in merchandise has kept Erik Christensen on his toes. Christensen, the director of marketing, has kept the public updated by providing as much information as possible on the team's website. He said that merchandise could go on sale on the site soon.

"The team hat debuts in the next couple of weeks," he said.

Christensen also pointed out that visitors continue to check out the latest River Eels happenings on the site on a daily basis.

"We are getting 100 unique hits a day," he said. "We've had over 500 requests for tickets. We've had an overwhelming response for season tickets. People want to receive the newsletter. We're keeping people in the loop of what's going on."

Rothberg noted that a lot of baseball operations work has gone on since November. The team has interviewed candidates for the general manager and head coach positions.

"We are beyond the halfway point of negotiating with a coach and general manager," Rothberg said. "The folks are professional baseball people. People will be extremely excited when the hear who could be coming."

Rothberg wouldn't divulge the names of the potential candidates and didn't say when they would do the hiring. He did point out that the team added more people to its staff.

"We have seven people working with us right now doing preliminary baseball operations - public relations, computer services, we're really starting to bring the pieces in," he said. "There are five board members, and the seven work underneath the board."

The first pitch won't leave the mound until at least one year from now, but the team has already attracted attention from various television stations.

"We had a number of outlets that wanted to do a reality show on it from the beginning until 2007," Rothberg said.

In addition to television outlets, Rothberg fields inquiries from people all over town. They all want to work for the River Eels.

"We have 150 resumes, and we have a list of people who want to volunteer," he said. "People want to be greeters. They want to work at the popcorn stand."

As much as the public looks forward to opening day, River Eels board members cannot wait to break ground and get their dream project underway. And within months, the construction of Plymouth's first independent baseball franchise may begin.

"It's going to be great family entertainment," Christensen said. "We want the facility to be a piece of Plymouth."

By Ryan Wood/ This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Thursday, April 27, 2006  

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