BOSTON, Mass. - Kyle Gray (Braintree, Mass.), a sophomore pitcher on the Worcester State University baseball team, was honored at Fenway Park on Tuesday after leading the Braintree American Legion Post 86 baseball team to the American Legion World Series in Shelby, N.C. last month.
Gray was the ace on the staff for his team, pitching the first game of the American Legion state tournament, regional tournament, and World Series. He was credited with a tough-luck loss in his World Series appearance, throwing six innings and allowing five hits and one unearned run in a 1-0 loss to Gonzales, La.
Gray was invited to a Red Sox game earlier this month and had the opportunity to take in batting practice from the field, meet a handful of players, and talk baseball with Red Sox pitching coach Dana LeVangie. His team was introduced to the crowd before the game and shown on the video scoreboard.
On Tuesday, Gray represented his team at a luncheon sponsored by the Red Sox Foundation at Fenway Park.
"This whole experience has been unbelievable and I will never forget how I felt being a part of it," said Gray. "Even though we didn't win any of the games at the World Series, it was the most amazing thing I've ever been a part of. Just a basic high school team playing at the same level as these other elite teams was just an experience of a lifetime."
Gray will return to the Lancer baseball team in the spring for his sophomore season. He made seven appearances last season, going 1-0 in 12.1 innings pitched.
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