Kyle Adams got off a ferry from Martha’s Vineyard and arrived for his first practice just in time today. The Richmond catcher is no stranger to the Cape Cod Baseball League.

“My grandparents came to the Cape for 25 years,” Adams said. “I’ve always wanted to play in this league.”

He is just one of a long list of players continuing to arrive in Chatham. Ty Damron of Texas Tech, Aaron Knapp of Cal, and Jeff Paschke of USC are all scheduled to arrive later tonight. And while a handful of players like Kyle Adams are familiar with the Cape, most are not. The waves crashing on Lighthouse Beach, the succulent burgers from the Squire, and even the majority of their teammates are still merely vague figments to most of them.

The Chatham Anglers held their second full practice Saturday at Veterans Field. Full photo gallery (click).

To bring this diverse group of players together, Manager John Schiffner leans on one commonality. “Baseball,” Schiffner said when asked about the seemingly daunting task of transforming a group of talented individuals into a team. “It’s a constant everywhere.”

And they played baseball today. After receiving some logistical information, stretching out with the team trainers, and loosening their arms up, the players were broken into groups for the duration of their two-hour practice. Most pitchers threw bullpen sessions, while position players rotated through fielding and situational hitting stations.

Though there are still five Anglers playing in the NCAA Super Regionals and a number making the pilgrimage to Cape Cod from their respective corners of the country, the excitement level on the field is already rising.

Coach Travis Beausoleil, who threw batting practice today, promised an extra round of balls to any group that hit his final pitch out of the park. Will Craig, the Wake Forest All-American who launched one beyond the leftfield porch earlier in practice, was playfully distressed when he did not have the good fortune of being at the plate for the last pitch of his group.

“Don’t worry, Craig,” Beausoleil smilingly assured him. “I’ll get you next week.”