OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The snow is gone, the temperatures are heating up and summer is just around the corner. For residents of Old Orchard Beach that means two things: Tourists will soon be flocking to the beach and The Ballpark will soon be filled with professional baseball for the first time in 27 years.

The Old Orchard Beach Surge, which is a member of the newly-formed East Coast Baseball League, will open its home season at The Ballpark on June 2 ”“ and Surge officials are excited to bring pro baseball back to the beach.

“Driving in I said, ”˜wow, this is one of the nicest stadiums in minor league baseball that I’ve seen,’” said Brad Michals, who is the director of baseball for the Surge.

Michals, who was director of player personnel for the Worcester Tornadoes for seven years, got to see The Ballpark up close on Friday along with Surge General Manager Alex Markakis and manager Scott Nathanson, who also goes by “Skip” or “Nate.”

“It’s great,” said Markakis of being back at The Ballpark. “Everyone is coming together right now, especially the whole team. Skip obviously coming from New York and Brad coming from Massachusetts and now they are here in Maine, so it’s good.”

For Michals, joining the Surge was a no-brainer.

“I got a phone call from (ECBL President) Colin Cummins at the end of March. He had gotten my name from either the Red Sox or Cardinals from my seven or eight years with the Can-Am League,” said Michals. “He told me about what was happening here in Old Orchard, asked if I wanted to hop on as director of baseball and I said, ”˜you know what, sure.’”

Markakis, who played college baseball in Standish, was thrilled to find a job in baseball that kept him right here in Maine.

“Being from Maine the last four years over at St. Joe’s College, there was always something that really wanted me to come back,” said Markakis, who also played at The Ballpark for the North Shore Navigators a few years back. “It might have been The Ballpark, it might have been the state and the environment. It’s a lot different than Massachusetts, it’s a lot more laid back and there’s like a peace and calm up here in Maine and that’s why I’m back here. I love everything about the state, the people and this ballpark especially.”

Michals has been impressed with what he’s seen from Markakis so far.

“He’s got so much talent as a general manager,” Michals said of Markakis.

For Markakis, it’s exciting to see The Ballpark start to take shape, which according to the Surge GM, is all thanks to one man.

“Jim Doran does a great job of keeping this ballpark together, up and running, everything functional and everything organized, which is great,” said Markakis.

Markakis wasn’t sure that the Surge would ever be able to play this year.

“It’s about time. We didn’t think we were going to have a season as a matter of fact after this winter,” said Markakis.

One thing that drew Michals to OOB was the chance to once again work in independent minor league baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball.

“I truly believe there are only so many places where you can find a pro spot and when you’re out of affiliated, it doesn’t mean you’re not good enough, it just means you need the opportunity and we definitely give these players that opportunity,” said Michals.

Michals, who has plenty of connections throughout baseball, knows that teams like the Portland Sea Dogs will be paying close attention to the East Coast Baseball League.

“They will actually end up looking at our league for talent,” said Michals of the Red Sox’ minor league affiliate.

Michals is hoping the residents of OOB and the surrounding communities will give the Surge a chance ”“ and he believes, if they do, they won’t be disappointed.

“In the minor leagues, I think you see a tougher brand (of baseball), because they have to be (tough) to survive and to get where they need to get to,” said Michals.

According to Michals, the Surge will bring a different feel to The Ballpark than the Raging Tide, which competed in college summer leagues for the past four summers.

“Not that college kids don’t appreciate it, but it’s a different road that they are traveling. I think when you see the professionals here, they are fighting for their livelihoods and something they worked on their whole lives and if it doesn’t work out, that’s an end of a chapter in their lives, so you see a whole different energy in a pro ballpark,” said Michals.

Michals hopes that energy will help draw people away from the beach for just a few hours.

“To me, you can only go to the beach so much. You come here for two or three innings, it’s affordable for families and when they meet the players, (the kids) might like baseball. But after meeting the players and maybe playing catch with them, they might turn and love baseball,” said Michals.

If the players come into Old Orchard Beach with the same energy as Michals, Markakis and Nathanson, then the Surge will put on quite a show this summer at The Ballpark.

“I am champing at the bit,” said Michals on getting the season started.

NOTE: For tickets or more information go to www.surgebaseball.weebly.com.

— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at [email protected] or at 282-1535 ext. 322.