My first time hearing about this game was a few days ago and I could not quite put my finger on what made this game so cool. Was it the fact that it was NCAA athletes competing against players they hope to in the future? Or could it have been the history of this game, dating back to the 1970’s? Both answers seem to fit the mold.
This is the 21st edition of this exhibition and the Red Sox have won every one of them up to this point. The teams started playing the game in 1977 and have been able to get in 21 games through those years. While it would be cool for them to do that every year, schedules don’t always work out.
I was surprised to see some of the bigger names for Boston suit up, like Tristan Casas, Marcelo Mayer, Trayce Thompson, and a few other regular big leaguers. I figured it would be more of a chance for Boston to show their farm talent off. Instead, they get Tristan Casas going 0 for 3 against college kids and possibly getting at his confidence before any games against major league players. He was instantly off my fantasy draft board.
Casas going 0 for 3 did not have much impact on the game as the Huskies from Northeastern took an early lead with 2 on the board. They did not score anymore for the rest of the game and a big 4th inning from the Red Sox is what decided this ball game. The final score being Red Sox 5 – Huskies 2 in 7 innings.
With the Huskies proving themselves better and better every time they play, there has to be a mad man leading the way. Former Northeastern graduate and MLB player Mike Glavine is a big reason for being able to get this program where it is today. He has made three NCAA Regionals appearances since 2015, and 20 players from his teams have been drafted to the MLB. Aaron Civale being drafted in 2016 highlights that list and Sebastian Keane, a pitcher, was coincidentally drafted to the Red Sox in 2019. Mike is the brother of MLB great Tom Glavine.
I am excited to see more from this game in the future and see coach Mike Glavine pull one off a win one of these times.