In-depth with our sports seniors

Matthew Burke: Overcoming adversity

Derek Gibbons, Sports Editor

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Matthew Burke was always overcoming adversity in the game of baseball. In his final year of Little League, he did not make the “A” all-star team and was put on the “B” squad. Determined to prove himself he was one of the better players, Burke turned to hard work and determination.

“They ended up making and winning states,” said Burke, “and they actually had a game on ESPN once. All my friends were on the team and I was upset I didn’t make it. It only pushed me more to get better.”

Pushing to get better was exactly what Burke did. He made his freshman team in high school, but then as a sophomore, he was brought up to the varsity team. All emotions being mixed into one, he was nervous and excited at the same time to get the opportunity to play at a higher level of competition.

In his first game as a varsity player, he was asked to play a position he had never played before: shortstop.

“The varsity shortstop was hurt, so the coach put me in there,” said Burke. “I never played short before, so I was nervous.”

Burke continued to progress in the game and before he knew it, it was senior year of high school and he was captain of his team. Burke was not finished there as he still had more to prove to himself and to others. He wanted to compete in the next level of competition and that was college ball.

In the Bridgewater Showcase, Burke put on a show for the scouts as he would homer to left field in the game, sparking some interest from coaches in the stands, including Coach Tom Rizzo of the College. With word from Rizzo, Puleri would recruit Burke to play.

Getting into Endicott, Colby Sawyer, UNH, and Eckerd College, Burke chose MCLA because it was his greatest opportunity to play the sport he enjoyed most.

“The only reason I came to MCLA was to play baseball,” said Burke.

MCLA was a place for Burke to shine, and shine he did in his freshman year, as once again he was facing adversity in the face.

The team traveled down to Florida like they do every spring break and Burke was ready for the stiff competition. With the team’s designated hitter hurt, Burke was given the opportunity to show what he had and he did not disappoint. In his first start of the year, he went 2-3 and showed promise in the young season. Puleri took notice and placed Burke back into the line up in the following games with Burke continuing to rake at the plate. In a game against Bowdoin College, he would come up big and hit his first career home run on a fastball that he pulled over the left field fence.

“I was surprised,” said Burke. “I had only hit one other homerun in my life before. I am not a home run hitter.”

Now a senior in college, he looks back and reflects on where he learned and first played the game of baseball with his father in the backyard.

“My dad introduced me to the game,” Burke said. “He would hit me ground balls and fly balls in the backyard. He was always there when I wanted to play.”

Burke first played when he was seven years old on a tee-ball team. Watching the bigger kids in little league was something Burke admired. He followed around the little league all-stars when they made their run to the Little League World Series, almost as if he were part of the team. That is when he fell in love with the game.

As he grew older, it was his cousins next who he had admired. His cousin, Kevin, went to the University of North Carolina and was drafted out of college by the Detroit Tigers. With baseball running in the blood of the family, Burke knew he was next in line for greatness.

His mother was also a big part of Burke’s baseball career, as she was his number one fan and attended all his games.

In one game, Burke got an inside fastball and turned on it and ripped it out of play down by the third base side where his mother was sitting. The ball missed his mom by inches and just missed taking off her head.


“My mom always went to the games and supported me,” Burke recalled. “Actually, now that I think about it, I don’t think she’s ever missed a game, even after that foul ball.”

With his first and last games approaching in the next couple of weeks, he expects only the best out of himself, his coaches, and most importantly his teammates.

“This is the best team we have had since I have been here,” said Burke. “We should win MASCAC.”

Burke came into MCLA with a boatload of newcomers to the baseball program. With the same players still on the team and looking at their last season also, Burke thanks them and wants the best for the in their senior season.

“I am looking forward to finishing on top with the guys I came in with,” said Burke. “We have worked hard for four years and we have been looking forward to this for a while.”