Groton -- The players on the Mystic Schooners summer league baseball team are used to stiff competition on the diamond, but late last month they were involved in a tight egg race between Team Squishy Pizza Palace and Team Angry Birds.

The advice from the baseball players? Go slow, and “be the egg.”

Fifty parents and kids gathered at the field behind the Groton Public Library that Monday for the egg race and other activities with players from the Schooners, as part of a weekly summer program at the library. Children’s librarian Kim Balentine said she came up with the program as a way to encourage kids to visit the library during the summer.

“The whole country is doing ‘Ready, Set, Read’ (for summer reading) with all the sports themes, so we thought, ‘Well, we’ve got a collegiate team right in our backyards so we have to team up with them,’” she said.

The team's general manager was happy to oblige.

“It’s a great group of guys on the team, and what we try to do is just have some fun and keep the Schooner name in the community,” said general manager Dennis Long. He said it’s important to the team to make sure the kids and their families have a good experience with the players.

The day’s activities began with a draft by the players and team stretches. Schooners infielder Nick Mascelli and pitcher Ryan Connolly had everyone on their team introduce themselves before the team huddle.

“All right, everyone, bring it in,” they said, bringing everyone into a tight circle. “Let’s have some fun today, all right? ‘Angry Birds’ on three. One, two, three.”

“‘Angry Birds!’” the team cheered.

Most of the older kids in the groups took off with determination, walking briskly to get across the field quickly without dropping their eggs, as parents clapped from the sidelines. The players walked with some of the younger children, offering tips for keeping their eggs on their spoons as they completed their legs of the race.

Despite pitcher Joe Rivera’s attempts to even the race by walking backwards against Mascelli, Team Squishy Pizza Palace prevailed. They won most of the tic-tac-toe races, too. To settle it, they held a “coaches’ game” with the players.

With cheers and giggles from the parents and kids, Connolly got the first point as he threw his pink scarf into one of the corner spots on the giant tic-tac-toe board on the field, but Rivera playfully pushed him out of the way to keep him from getting back to his line. Mascelli and pitcher Kevin Magee shuffled back and forth on the board as they figured out where to place their scarves.

Team Squishy Pizza Palace won once again, so they played one more round of tic-tac-toe.

“Go where he doesn’t!” the others yelled from the sidelines.

“Get back, Kev, get back!” Rivera told Magee after he dodged Connolly and threw his yellow scarf.

And Rivera and Mascelli both threw their scarves into the same corner to end the game.

“Mine’s in!” Rivera pointed to his yellow scarf, which had fallen inside the hula hoop that marked the spot. “Mine’s in!”

“No way!” Mascelli said. “Mine got down first!”

Rivera and Team Squishy Pizza Palace were declared the final winners as they closed out the day with an egg toss and a show of long-distance throws between the players.

Connolly, who is in his first season with the Schooners, said Long had asked for volunteers for the program.

“Our hands shot up right away,” he said.

Rivera said players rotate through the program so everyone gets to interact with the kids and the kids get to meet all the players.

“I thought it was great. It’s lots of fun. It’s great to see the kids come out smiling,” he said.

Mystic Schooner Mondays are held at the field behind the Groton Public Library on Route 117 every Monday at 10 a.m. though Aug. 8.

a.hutchinson@theday.com