Tufts Blogs

As the late James Earl Jones eloquently stated in Field of Dreams, “America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time.”

Just as baseball has marked the passage of time in the United States, it has been a constant presence in my life for as long as I can remember. At a young age, I was dressing up as Boston Red Sox players for Halloween and have played baseball since the age of four. Some of my earliest memories include having a catch in the backyard with my grandfather. Needless to say, then, I entered Tufts seeking to continue playing baseball. While I had played in high school, I knew that I was not good enough to play at the varsity level, but I still wanted to scratch my competitive itch. 

I found the club baseball team on Instagram when applying to Tufts, and searched it up again the summer before matriculating. Anxiously, I filled out the form in the account’s bio to register for the tryout. 

I will never forget the day of the tryout, Sunday, September 3, 2023. In my long baseball pants and high, thick socks, I was sweating like I was in Death Valley while in Carzo Cage. After a few rounds of hitting in the batting cage and some bullpen catching session, the practice concluded and the 15 participants were told that we would hear back later that night.

At 8 pm that night, I exuberantly checked my phone to see a message congratulating me on making the team. And, with that, my journey with Tufts Club Baseball kicked off. 

Not only has baseball connected me with some amazing friends, but it provides a much-needed outlet for a fun, competitive experience three times each week. Our bi-weekly practices in Carzo Cage offer an escape from the busy school days and often conclude with an enjoyable non-baseball contest. 

Each weekend through the end of October in the fall and starting at the end of March in the spring, we play at least one game against another school. At home, we have the privilege of playing at the state-of-the-art Sol Gittleman Field. Away, we have traveled as far as Standish, Maine, and Providence, Rhode Island. The best feeling in the world is returning from a hard-fought away victory and stopping for a team meal in a town that nobody has ever heard of. Post-win munching is the best!

Off the field, the team holds a number of social events, from end-of-season barbeques to pickup basketball sessions. Everyone on the team was very welcoming to me as a freshman and has been so genuine. In high school, the atmosphere on my team was cutthroat, as players competed for playing time. At Tufts, I have only had positive experiences with my teammates, who have supported me each time I’ve taken the field. 

My time at Tufts has truly been the most fun I’ve ever had playing baseball. There is nothing like doing something you love with incredible people, and, most importantly, without stress. Playing travel and high school baseball, games were always synonymous with stress and pressure. At Tufts, games are synonymous with a good time, win or lose. At the end of the day, none of us have a future baseball career, and all of us are trying to savor our last few years playing the game we love. We show up each week, stay out on the field during late Sunday night doubleheaders, and pack into the vans for a trip to New Hampshire at 8 am for the love of the game, and that is something I truly value. 

Go ‘Bos! 

Photo Credit: Bailey Finocchio, Tufts Club Sports