It was a hot summer's day. People were strolling about, upbeat music blessing the ears of those in reach, the smell of freshly-cooked pizza wafting through the air. No, it wasn't a scene from a bustling street in Italy - it was the Harbor Hawks' second annual Pizza Fest, presented by Hy-Line Cruises, on the Hyannis Town Green. The date was July 14th, and from 12-4 p.m. fans of pizza and baseball alike came together to make the event a huge success.

Temperatures reached as high as 89 degrees on the day, but that didn't stop people from coming out to support the team and enjoy some of the best pizza the area has to offer. Eight different restaurants supplied countless delicious pies for the event, all vying to be voted as having the best pizza by those in attendance. Cape Cod Beer provided ice-cold beverages to wash down the pizza, Cape Cod Broadcasting kept the energy up with a variety of songs perfect for the occasion, and Cape Cod Creamery provided four different flavors of their renowned ice cream, the perfect frosty dessert for a scorching-hot day.

Pizza Fest was made possible in large part thanks to the support of Hy-Line Cruises, who partnered with the Harbor Hawks to help put on the event. Betsy Rich, Hy-Line's marketing manager, commented, "We are very proud to support a wonderful organization and keep it local. As a family-owned company, we are really happy to help to make this event a success." Cape Cod Beer played a large role as well, sponsoring the event and operating a pop-up beer garden within the festival grounds. "Cape Cod Beer is excited to be a part of an event that brings the community together to support the Hyannis Harbor Hawks, and enjoy delicious pizza!", a company executive remarked, delivering the last phrase with an extra tinge of enthusiasm.

Though pizza was the main attraction, there was plenty else to do throughout the four hours of the event. Attendees could purchase 50-50 raffle tickets, giving them the chance to take home the cash prize or one of the other items up for grabs. Numerous pieces of sports memorabilia were displayed on a stretch of tables, each looking to find their home with their highest bidders in a silent auction. A line of eager guests weaved its way backwards throughout the area, its members yearning for the cool relief of a cup of Cape Cod Creamery ice cream. Just outside the area cordoned off for the festivities, Harbor Hawks players threw frisbees and baseballs while children showed off their own hitting skills with a trio of whiffle-ball pitching machines.

Running the show in the kids' zone was Deb Dagwan, a member of the local organization Independence House. Independence House is a resource on Cape Cod that provides support, counseling, and advocacy for issues pertaining to domestic and sexual violence. A group of Independence House representatives set up a booth at Pizza Fest with a simple but powerful goal - raise attendees' awareness of these issues and invite them to sign a pledge condemning domestic and sexual violence and promising to never partake in such acts. By the end of the day the pledge was overflowing with signatures taking a united stance against these issues. Harbor Hawks players, who took the time to come to the event despite having a game in Chatham later that day, added their names to the list of pledgers. The pledge was even read and signed by young children, planting an essential seed in their minds about the importance of respecting and caring for fellow human beings.

One of the highlights of the day was the pizza eating contest, a closely-contested (and highly entertaining) affair. Eight contestants, hailing from as local as Cape Cod to as far away as Texas, were tasked with eating an entire half of a 16-inch Regina Pizzeria pizza. When the dust (and sauce) settled, Ben Floren from Hy-Line Cruises emerged victorious. The title couldn't have gone to a more fitting contestant; Hy-Line was the main sponsor of the event, and Floren himself helped adorn a truck with decorative pizzas advertising Pizza Fest for the Hyannis Fourth of July parade.

The day was capped of with the announcing of the winner of the fan vote for the restaurant with the best pizza. Garnering over 80 nods for the top spot, Jack's Pizza and Restaurant Bar took home this year's crown. Owners Derek and Grace Horton made their way to the stage, triumphantly accepting the first-place trophy. Ten Pin Eatery took home second place, and with it a smaller trophy, while Craigville Pizza & Mexican rounded out the podium in third place. When asked about the event, Derek Horton summed it up succinctly: "[There are] a lot of good restaurants here, a lot of good pizza, and a lot of good fun".

Even the restaurants that didn't earn the top spot had nothing but good things to say about Pizza Fest. Frank Fawcett, general manager of Regina Pizzeria, noted the mutual benefits the community and the Harbor Hawks receive from the event. Christian Boutiette of B & B Pizza perfectly encapsulates this sentiment, saying "It's a good time, [it] raises money and community . . . we've been doing things with the Harbor Hawks for about a decade now; it's a very nice collaboration".

In only its second year, Pizza Fest has already turned into a thriving event for the Hyannis community. Not resting on their laurels, the masterminds behind its success have plenty in mind for the coming years. Having only two years under its belt, the event has plenty of room to expand and improve. One person contrasted the day's festivities with that of another well-known local event, Chowder Fest. While Chowder Fest has years of history and plenty of resources, Pizza Fest is short on both accounts. Considering its sizeable success despite this difference, the possibilities for the future are endless. With an emphasis on community and bringing people together, Pizza Fest is sure to be a mainstay for Hyannis and the Harbor Hawks for years to come.

Byline: Matt Neiser

"I was hoping that they would give me a call."

Sitting at home in Walpole, Massachusetts, Ian Fair wasn't sure what the rest of his summer had in store. A rising junior at Northeastern University, Fair had just gotten his first taste of Cape League baseball with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. He did so on a temporary contract - a short-term agreement to help fill out the team's roster while they waited for some of the full-contract players to arrive from places such as the College World Series and Team USA tryouts.

Fair spent a week with the team to begin the season, going a combined three-for-seven (.429 average) with a walk in two games, before being released by the team on June 17 to make room for incoming players. With no promise from the Harbor Hawks to bring him back and no other offers on the table, Fair spent the next couple weeks staying in shape and pitching himself to potential teams.

Though he reached out to multiple teams, it was clear to Fair that he wanted to get another shot in Hyannis: "I was hoping that I would [get called back] . . . I didn't really want to go to a new team because I had already started to make friends, and it's always tough going to a new team for the summer."

Hope became reality two and a half weeks later, when the Harbor Hawks signed Fair to a contract for the rest of the summer. He was activated on June 4, and a day later he was back in the lineup.

The Cape League can be daunting for some players due to the amount of talent around them, but Fair was unfazed. While at Northeastern, Fair and the Huskies compete in the Colonial Athletic Association, a mid-major conference consisting of east coast schools such as Elon, Charleston, and UNC Wilmington. The CAA boasted a collection of elite pitchers in 2019, including 15 that were selected in the 2019 MLB draft. Despite this, Fair ended the season with a .357 batting average in 49 games, taking home the batting title with the conference's highest average. Against the five CAA pitchers selected in the first eight rounds of the draft - including 20th overall pick and CAA Pitcher of the Year George Kirby (Elon) - Fair compiled an impressive .333 average (4-for-12) with one walk.

"Especially this year, we had some really good arms in the CAA, so I got to hit off a lot of good guys. That's definitely served me well coming in [to the Cape League], because in this league you're facing everybody's best guys," Fair said.

Did that change Fair's mentality coming from the CAA to the Cape League? "No, not at all. Same exact thing. Just go out and do what you know how to do."

Fair certainly knows how to hit the ball, and he did just that on the Cape, carrying on his strong hitting from the college season. Including the two games in his initial stint, Fair ripped off a 14-game on base streak to begin the season. He recorded at least one hit in 13 of those games and ended the run with a nine-game hitting streak.

Though the streak came to an end eventually, Fair continued his impressive showing throughout the rest of the summer. He finished with a .348 average - the best mark on the Harbor Hawks - to go along with four walks while notching 11 runs and nine RBIs in 25 games with a plate appearance. Of those 25 games, Fair reached base in 23 of them and recorded a hit in 22. Fair also mashed a lone home run on July 29, the third home run of a wild fifth inning for Hyannis in a game against Falmouth.

It wasn't just his skill at the plate that drew eyes, either; Fair shone in the field as the Harbor Hawks' starting first baseman. He made numerous impressive stops on ground balls, as well as some spectacular leaping catches to snag line drives. At 6' 3" tall, his long frame allowed him to stretch far from the bag when handling throws from his infield counterparts.

Fair's fielding prowess was made all the more remarkable by the fact that first base isn't his normal position. A shortstop in high school, he slotted into second base during his freshman season at Northeastern. Year two saw him take on the designated hitter role for the Huskies, and now he can check first base off the list as well.

Fair relishes that versatility, saying, "[I'm] flexible . . . Wherever the team needs me, wherever I can get in the lineup, I'll play."

Though shortstop used to be his go-to position, Fair's time in the Cape League has brought him around to the idea of playing first more regularly. With New York Yankees draftee Jake Farrell leaving a vacant spot at first base at Northeastern, Fair says "you could definitely see" him at first base next season for the Huskies. He also mentioned the possibility of helping out a third base - fitting, really, considering the positional carousel he's been on the last few years.

Despite the success, Fair has kept himself grounded. When asked if he expected to do as well as he has, he downplayed the idea: "I didn't really expect anything. I just went out and played the same game I've been playing my whole life. I went out and did my thing, and I've been playing pretty well."

The Cape League experience has been a unique one for Fair. In a league full of MLB talent and power conference players, he didn't come in as a highly-touted prospect. It began with just a one-week temporary deal, and Fair had no idea what the future held beyond that. Fast forward two months, and he's consistently proven his mettle against some of the best players in college baseball. He led his team in average, and he took a new position in stride and excelled at it. That's the Cape League at its finest - giving players the opportunity to shine in front fans and scouts alike and make a name for themselves at the highest level. Fair took full advantage of that opportunity, and it should pay dividends for him as his career progresses.

"It's definitely a confidence booster, just knowing that you can play with the best of them. I'm just gonna go out and keep doing the same thing that I've always done since I've been young, and hopefully I'll continue to have success."

Byline: Matt Neiser

Want to know what it's like to play for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks?

Check out Summer Heat, a film by Nick Johnson and DJ Jamiel and find out.