Pare's Perseverance Earns Cape Cod League Invite

SALEM, Mass. -- Salem State pitcher Brock Pare '23 (Lowell, Mass.) recently achieved the ultimate goal of every collegiate baseball player, a chance to play in the prestigious Cape Cod League, taking the mound for the Cotuit Kettleers this summer. The Cape League hosted 15 first round draft picks from the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft this summer, and Pare earning an invite to play against the best college players is quite an accomplishment.      

The Vikings have sent three players to the Cape Cod League in recent years - Richard Fecteau (Hyannis Harbor Hawks - 2013, and fellow Lowell native Brock Riley (Chatham Anglers - 2018) - join Pare as Cape Cod League alumni. Pare, who is transferring to Division I Central Connecticut State for a post-grad year, shared his experience.     

1. Tell us where you were playing this summer and how did it come about that you were able to join the Cotuit Kettleers late in the season?  

"This summer I was training at Cressey Sports Performance in Hudson, Mass. I had trained there last summer and at the conclusion of our spring season at Salem I got right into the gym and worked out 5-6x a week. 

Sam Erskin a four-year player at Salem State, and a good friend of mine was down in Cotuit as a bullpen catcher. There came a point where lots of players were leaving Cotuit for various reasons and they needed arms. Sam reached out to me asking for any video or trackman data I had so that he could show it to his coach. As days went on, Sam would tell me he keeps throwing my name around and making sure head coach [Mike] Roberts was aware of me."

Roberts [invited me] to come down to throw a bullpen session so he could watch, I went down and after a week or so I heard back saying I have earned it to be in the Cape [League] and he'd love to have me down here and be a Kettleer to finish up the season as we entered playoffs.

2. What was the experience like, and how were you able to adjust to playing in a high-profile league?

"The experience was amazing. From my host family to the interns to the games and teammates, everything was so awesome. It was interesting for me having not seen a batter since our last playoff game for Salem in May. My first time being in a live situation was down at the Cape, which was a little nerve racking, but once I got on the mound I thought back to all the work I've done this summer and the confidence I had in my last start vs Westfield and told myself it was just another day getting to do what I love, which is pitching and competing.

The biggest thing in the Cape [League] is confidence and playing knowing that you belong at that level of ball."

3. What was your biggest takeaway from your time in the Cape League?

"My personal biggest takeaway is that I do in fact belong at that level, coming from division III that's a huge question that crosses my mind.

And though I didn't post the best numbers with my time in the Cape, I took all my positives, to look at what I do well and then took the negatives to see where and how I can improve.

A huge part of my career is constantly evaluating myself, with eagerness to becoming a better version."

4. You had a very successful 2024 season, helping Salem State capture a share of the MASCAC regular season championship and earning all-conference honors. What will you remember most about your time as a Viking?

"I'll remember most, my teammates and coaches, all the memories the highs and the lows. The connections I made and continue to have are very important to me. 

Another thing that I won't be able to ever forget is the grind. The days where it was hard, or I was exhausted. To see things trending in the right direction, makes those days where the end goal was probably pretty vague, a moment of proudness I don't often give myself."

5. Who has influenced and helped you the most in your career? 

"There have been plenty of people who have helped along the way. I always talk about Trav Briana, a Salem State baseball alumnus,  who got me in the weight room as a skinny freshman. My coaches at Salem have always been important to my career. Definitely Patrick Greenan my pitching coach for the past two years. The coaches at Cressey, Blaise Martinez and Kevin McGowan have been awesome to me.

And my family, the support I have gotten from my family has made the process that much more enjoyable. The road hasn't always been the clearest, but they have always loved and believed in me which helps me stay disciplined through the process."

6. You are off to Central Connecticut State for a post-grad year, what do you think the biggest adjustment will be for you going from Divion to III to DI?

"I believe I have gotten myself to a position where I'm not necessarily looking to adjust at the DI level, more so looking to be a guy who's going to compete at a high-level day 1.

I'm super excited to see a DI program's differences coming from DIII. Whether that be facilities, schedules, data, lifts, practices etc. I am really ready to buy into a new program and work my butt off to help be the best teammate I can be. One thing that was said in the Cape, and you often hear leveling up in baseball is… 'It's the same game we played when we were 10 years old having a blast, so enjoy it!'" 

7. Will you continue to pursue a career in baseball after this year and what would you ultimately like to do once your college career ends?

"In my mind I'm full throttle with baseball right now. I want to continue to become a better version of myself as a player. I don't want there to ever be a regret later in life where I could feel as if I didn't give it my all. I must continue to believe in myself and stay focused on what I want to do.  

In the long run I will be giving back to the sport through coaching because I love to help others and see growth in people's capabilities. Helping others has always been important to me."