Cape Cod Baseball League, Orleans Firebirds, Luca Alagheband, Baseball, BSB, Harvard Baseball, Feature, Monthly Feature
Edward Monigan IV/Harvard Athletics

A Cape League Summer

Cape Cod Baseball League, Orleans Firebirds, Luca Alagheband, Baseball, BSB, Harvard Baseball, Feature, Monthly Feature
Getting the chance to play on the Cape this summer meant everything to me. It was something I dreamt of in high school since many phenomenal players have played in this league. My coaches put their trust in me and gave me the opportunity to represent Harvard, which meant everything to me.
Luca Alagheband '28
Cape Cod Baseball League, Scenics
Cape Cod Baseball League, Scenics
Cape Cod Baseball League, Scenics
Cape Cod Baseball League, Scenics

For over a century, Cape Cod has served as a summer home for collegiate baseball’s most promising talent. Since the Cape Cod Baseball League’s official inception in 1923, generations of ballplayers have spent their summer playing  for the small-town teams located throughout Cape Cod. Perhaps one of the most cherished traditions of this league, these tight-knit communities welcome athletes into their homes, allowing every athlete to experience life on the Cape in a family environment.

July 31, 2026, Orleans, MA: at Eldredge Park, in Orleans, Massachusetts Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Edward Monigan IV/Harvard Athletics)
July 31, 2026, Orleans, MA: at Eldredge Park, in Orleans, Massachusetts Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Edward Monigan IV/Harvard Athletics)
July 31, 2026, Orleans, MA: at Eldredge Park, in Orleans, Massachusetts Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Edward Monigan IV/Harvard Athletics)

Every year, the Cape League season runs from mid-June to mid-August. With every team playing 40 regular-season games, there is ample opportunity for the residents to bond with the players representing their community. At Eldredge Park, home of the Orleans Firebirds, it does not matter the day of the week, the weather forecast, or the matchup; whenever a game is scheduled, there is truly a sense of excitement in the air.

Cape Cod Baseball League, Orleans Firebirds, Luca Alagheband, Baseball, BSB, Harvard Baseball, Feature, Monthly Feature
Cape Cod Baseball League, Orleans Firebirds, Luca Alagheband, Baseball, BSB, Harvard Baseball, Feature, Monthly Feature
What makes it different is how the whole community wraps itself around the game. At Eldredge Park, you've got fans packed on the hill, families spread out on blankets, scouts lining the fences, and volunteers who pour their time into making it all happen. It gives every game this special, old-school feel that reminds you how much the Cape means to the people there.
Luca Alagheband '28
July 22, 2026, Boston, MA: At Eldredge Park, in Orleans, Massachusetts Wednesday, July 22, 2026. (Photo by Eddie Monigan/Harvard Athletics)
July 31, 2026, Orleans, MA: at Eldredge Park, in Orleans, Massachusetts Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Edward Monigan IV/Harvard Athletics)

Night in and night out at Eldredge Park, families bring their own chairs and blankets to watch the Orleans Firebirds compete. It is a special place where town residents, young and old, come together to enjoy baseball in its purest form.

July 31, 2026, Orleans, MA: at Eldredge Park, in Orleans, Massachusetts Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Edward Monigan IV/Harvard Athletics)
July 22, 2026, Boston, MA: At Eldredge Park, in Orleans, Massachusetts Wednesday, July 22, 2026. (Photo by Eddie Monigan/Harvard Athletics)
It comes down to the people. You're competing against the best players in the country every night, but you're also welcomed into a host family and a community that pours everything into making the summer special. The fans, the volunteers, the teammates, you build real bonds with; they're what make it unforgettable. This summer meant so much to me because of the people, and I came out of it a better player and person.
Luca Alagheband '28
Cape Cod Baseball League, Orleans Firebirds, Luca Alagheband, Baseball, BSB, Harvard Baseball, Feature, Monthly Feature
Cape Cod Baseball League, Orleans Firebirds, Luca Alagheband, Baseball, BSB, Harvard Baseball, Feature, Monthly Feature
July 29, 2026, Orleans, MA: at Eldredge Park, in Orleans, Massachusetts Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (Photo by Edward Monigan IV/Harvard Athletics)
July 29, 2026, Orleans, MA: at Eldredge Park, in Orleans, Massachusetts Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (Photo by Edward Monigan IV/Harvard Athletics)
July 29, 2026, Orleans, MA: at Eldredge Park, in Orleans, Massachusetts Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (Photo by Edward Monigan IV/Harvard Athletics)

For Harvard sophomore Luca Alagheband, spending a summer playing in the Cape Cod Baseball League was something he had always envisioned. The CCBL has played host to over 1,000 collegiate athletes who eventually moved on to play professional baseball. Joining a long list of Harvard baseball players to compete for the Orleans Firebirds, Alagheband aimed to add to that legacy. Some of Alagheband’s former teammates, Sean Matson, Callan Fang, and Truman Pauley, spent a summer pitching in Orleans and were then selected in the Major League Baseball Draft.

July 31, 2026, Orleans, MA: at Eldredge Park, in Orleans, Massachusetts Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Edward Monigan IV/Harvard Athletics)
July 31, 2026, Orleans, MA: at Eldredge Park, in Orleans, Massachusetts Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Edward Monigan IV/Harvard Athletics)
July 31, 2026, Orleans, MA: at Eldredge Park, in Orleans, Massachusetts Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Edward Monigan IV/Harvard Athletics)
Cape Cod Baseball League, Orleans Firebirds, Luca Alagheband, Baseball, BSB, Harvard Baseball, Feature, Monthly Feature
July 31, 2026, Orleans, MA: at Eldredge Park, in Orleans, Massachusetts Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Edward Monigan IV/Harvard Athletics)
Getting to follow in the footsteps of Truman, Callan, and Sean means a lot to me. They were the kind of competitors who set the standard around here, and they were even better teammates than they were players. Seeing them go on to pitch professionally shows what this program can produce, and carrying on that tradition is something I take real pride in. I'm grateful to be a part of that lineage.
Luca Alagheband '28
Cape Cod Baseball League, Orleans Firebirds, Luca Alagheband, Baseball, BSB, Harvard Baseball, Feature, Monthly Feature
July 31, 2026, Orleans, MA: at Eldredge Park, in Orleans, Massachusetts Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Edward Monigan IV/Harvard Athletics)
My coaches at Harvard prepared me by teaching me how to compete at a high level day in and day out. Facing tough Ivy League lineups and training under coaches who demand the best from me gave me the confidence that I belonged when I stepped onto the field at Eldredge Park.
Luca Alagheband '28
July 31, 2026, Orleans, MA: at Eldredge Park, in Orleans, Massachusetts Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Edward Monigan IV/Harvard Athletics)

While competition serves as the main attraction for athletes in the CCBL, the league’s foundation is built upon community service, which every player is expected to take part in. From youth development clinics at the field, to book readings at the local library, each week, these athletes give back to the community that has welcomed them with open arms.

Harvard Athletics media.
BSB, Baseball, Luca Alagheband, Cape Cod Baseball League, Orleans Firebirds
Harvard Athletics media.
Harvard Athletics media.
My favorite moment was the opportunity to read to younger kids at Snow Library, a classic Cape Cod library in Orleans. These kids look up to us as players and as people, so getting the chance to read and talk to them meant a lot to me. Knowing I could make a positive impact on them, even in a small way, is something that I'll forever hold onto.
Luca Alagheband '28

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