'Super cool': Exeter Cal Ripken team takes Fenway Park field, meets Red Sox

BOSTON — When the Exeter Junior Baseball League's 12-and-under Cal Ripken team takes the field, it's normally a town recreation field. And the sportsmanship handshakes that follow every game, win or lose, are done with the opposing team of fellow youth players.

Wednesday night was different.

This time, the Exeter players walked onto the field at Fenway Park. And they shook hands with Boston Red Sox players as they took the field for the top of the first inning of their game against the Cleveland Guardians.

It was a long way from Exeter's Currier Field for the local kids.

"I was very excited," Exeter's Mac Battey said.

"I was really happy because I found out I was going to be on the field," Bode Hayes said.

Before the pre-game handshakes, the Exeter players went on the field, with six players grouped around second base, and the other six players huddled around centerfield, for the national anthem.

The kids each received an autographed baseball from the Red Sox. The Exeter players were introduced to the Fenway crowd as state champions. Some members of the 12-and-under team were part of Exeter's state title-winning team at the 11U age level in 2023.

Exeter head coach Scott Battey said he had a cousin who had used to be in the Red Sox's group ticket sales department. Carl Grider, who is in charge of group ticket sales, is good friends with Battey's cousin.

"He said if you could get 12 of your kids together, we can get them out on the field before the game and all of the facilities," Scott Battey said. "So of course I jumped on the opportunity."

The team was awarded 50 tickets, which allowed each kid to bring some family members to Fenway with them.

"That's how it all came together," Scott Battey said. "So, I threw it out to the team, and they were super excited about it."

While waiting near the Red Sox dugout, the Exeter players were able to quickly meet Red Sox pitcher Liam Hendriks, then formed a handshake tunnel for the Red Sox players to take the field.

"I got to see all the players, it was really good," Nick Morrow said. "It was super cool."

Wednesday night was Morrow's first time at Fenway. He was one of the six players at second base and talked about sharing his first visit with his teammates.

"It was really cool, I like being around my teammates, they're all super nice," Morrow added.

"It was just so exciting," Scott Battey said on seeing the kids really enjoy their time on Wednesday. "To be in this historic park is an amazing experience ... I could just imagine how amazing it was for the kids, just to be under these lights, getting out there and standing (on the field), it was an amazing experience for them."

Battey said he wasn't expecting the team to get the opportunity to shake hands with Red Sox players as they took the field. All players were in their Exeter youth baseball uniforms.

"That was just an extra bonus," he said. "And the (Boston) players were so good with the kids, just super nice. It's like a dream come true when you're a little kid, just being able to come out here and meet the players for real and be on the field with them, it's amazing."

During the national anthem, both groups of Exeter players standing at second base and in centerfield were shown on the large video screen in the stadium, much to the excitement of the players who started jumping around and waving when they realized it.

"I saw players, and I saw the flag, and it was cool," Mac Battey added of his view from second base.

Hayes, who said he's been to Fenway three times, added he was a little nervous to run onto the field.

"My favorite part was being on the field, and the high-five line that we did," Hayes said.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Exeter Cal Ripken team takes Fenway Park field, meets Red Sox