Salem State's Riley hits the big time in Cape Cod League

The Salem News
By Matt Williams: Staff writer    
 

Most pitchers would tell you they don't pay attention to the guy in the batter's box, and they certainly aren't intimidated by where he went to school.

Still, there's no way you could go from pitching to players from Westfield State or Framingham State to staring in at hitters from the likes of national powers Miami, North Carolina or Arizona State without being struck by the difference, right?

One of the few pitchers in the country capable of answering this question is Salem State right-hander Brock Riley, who had an outstanding junior year for the Vikings and joined the Chatham Anglers of the world renowned Cape Cod Baseball League just last week.

Riley was pitching for the North Shore Navigators in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League this summer when he got a call from Chatham inviting him to throw a bullpen session — and potentially get a shot on the team. After a strong showing, Riley's thoughts on coming from a small school program helped get him in the door.

"Coach asked me if I was scared to play down here," Riley recalled, "I told him I wasn't scared of any hitter and that I belonged here. He liked that answer and I got added to the roster that day."

To continue reading, please click here.