By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Northeastern owns one of the best recruiting tools in all of Division I baseball: an annual exhibition game against the Red Sox in Fort Myers during spring training every February.
After leading Walpole High baseball to back-to-back Super Eights during his junior and senior seasons, Cam Schlittler entered his freshman year at Northeastern this past fall looking to make an immediate impact for the Huskies on the mound. It took almost no time at all for Schlittler to make his presence felt for NU, pitching a scoreless inning against Alabama on February 16 before earning the start against the Red Sox on February 21 to kickstart his collegiate career.
After working a scoreless one-two-three top of the first against the Red Sox, Schlittler was given the remainder of the afternoon off. While short, Schlittler says he could not have scripted a more memorable start to his collegiate career and that Friday’s exhibition contest will be a memory he always holds onto.
“Pitching against the Red Sox was an unbelievable experience, and I’m extremely lucky for the coaching staff allowing me to start against my favorite team,” said Schlittler. “It’s amazing to go out on the field and see so many fans that admire and love the sport that you play. The biggest part was off the field, where my family and friends were congratulating me and wishing me luck. The town of Walpole has always supported the sport I love and I couldn’t be more grateful. Starting against the Red Sox is something I’ll be able to talk about for a long time.”
The Red Sox won the exhibition by a 3-0 final. However, the Huskies bounced back with a three-game weekend sweep of South Florida, which included a double-header on Saturday in which the Huskies did not allow a single run. At 3-3, the Huskies will remain in Florida for the next two weeks, where they will square off with Villanova, St. Louis, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan in the Snowbird Baseball Classic, followed by a three-game series with Florida Atlantic. Northeastern will host Hartford in their home opener at Friedman Diamond in Brookline on March 11.
For funny and incisive sports analysis as well as game highlights, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram @flano0.
