Otterbein Student Steps Up to the Plate with Cape Cod Baseball League Internship

By Drakko Harper ’26

For most baseball fans, summer means sitting in the stands, hot dog in hand, and singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” For Connor Parsons, it meant standing behind the scenes, making sure the experience felt seamless and exciting.

Parsons, a sports management major, spent his summer as the marketing and public relations intern for the Bourne Braves, a top team in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL). The position is brand-new for the Braves, and Parsons hopes he set the standard for those who come after him.

“Honestly, it wasn’t all that difficult,” Parsons said about stepping into a role that didn’t exist before. “I asked for feedback early in the summer, and my bosses were incredibly helpful throughout the process. I made a point to understand their vision for the role and brought my own work ethic to it. My goal is to set a high bar for the next class of interns.”

Parsons’ responsibilities encompassed a wide range, including running the team’s weekly email newsletter, writing scripts for the public address announcer, coordinating with sponsors, assisting with pregame ceremonies, and creating social media content to capture both the on-field action and the fan experience at Doran Park.

“It felt amazing to be part of something as recognizable and beloved as the Braves,” Parsons said. “I found it easy to separate being a fan from my work because my goal was always to use my work to create more fans and bring more attention to the team.”

For him, the most rewarding work came in spotlighting special pregame moments. “The most rewarding part of my job was capturing pregame and behind-the-scenes moments,” Parsons said. “Showcasing national anthem singers and first pitch honorees is especially meaningful. Many are huge Braves fans and nervous to perform in front of our big crowds, so highlighting their experience makes it all the more special.”

Parsons also had the opportunity to attend the league’s annual Fenway Workout, where every CCBL team practices at Fenway Park in Boston. While the work was fast-paced, Parsons said he found common ground with fellow interns from universities such as USC, UNC Chapel Hill, Syracuse, and Penn State. “I’ve noticed that in the grand scheme of things, they aren’t better because they go to a big-name university,” he said. “Sure, some institutions have more money and resources, but the real difference is the work ethic you have.”

The internship is unpaid, but Parsons received support from Otterbein’s Immersive Experience Fund to help cover costs. “There are ways to help fund unpaid internships like the Immersive Experience Fund,” he said. “It makes it hard sometimes, for sure, not having an income while you’re away from home. I believe that if you want something bad enough, you can make it happen.”

Parsons said the summer reinforced his career goals. “This internship made me realize that I want to stay in sports media,” he said. “I find multimedia incredibly interesting, and there’s always room to grow and improve in this field. There’s constant innovation, and someone is always creating something new and exciting.”

As the season wrapped up, Parsons returned to Otterbein with new skills, industry connections, and the satisfaction of helping fans fall in love with the game.