Read over the rosters of most Cape League teams and you’ll find that the players hail from such faraway places as South Carolina, Texas, and even California. On all the Cape League teams there are only two players actually from Cape Cod. Jared McGuire is one of them.Boston Globe and Boston Herald Player of the Year, as well as the New England Male High School Athlete of the Year in 2003. 

McGuire, who resides with his family in Harwich when not attending Boston College (where he majors in sociology), started playing baseball when he was a child. Unlike most players, though, the game was not his main focus in the sports world. "I pretty much played everything," he said. "Hockey, football, baseball."

Hockey and baseball were favorites growing up and he recalled his father coaching his local hockey team. Baseball, however, slowly became his focus. 

In high school he played for Coach Fred Thacher at Harwich where he was named the 

The accolades are many for this stellar player who was voted team captain during his senior year. McGuire was a South Shore League All-Star from 2001 until 2003 and was even a top player in soccer and hockey.

As a freshman at BC, McGuire started in 11 of 16 games played. During one match, BC was struggling against opponent La Salle and was down 10-0. McGuire garnered his first collegiate hit and earned BC their only run of the game.

Last year, as a sophomore, McGuire received the honor of Big East Player of the Year, becoming the first sophomore to win the award since Brandt Ust of Notre Dame claimed it in 1998. 

McGuire more than earned the honor, leading the Big East in batting with .397. He had a whopping 82 hits, 52 runs, and 41 RBIs. He also led the league in stolen bases, succeeding in 27 of 29 attempts. 

This spring McGuire was signed to a temporary contract with the Hyannis Mets, gaining full-time status during their first practice. 

"It’s awesome," he said 

of playing in the Cape League. As a child, he attended numerous games and imagined playing on a team. "I was one of those kids asking for autographs and broken bats," he said. "Now I’m the one signing the balls."

The magic certainly isn’t lost on McGuire. When he was younger his older brother, Jeffrey Jr., also played ball, advancing all the way to States with one team. "He used to tease me all the time," said McGuire with a grin. "Now I kind of have the better position." 

No matter what the future holds, McGuire won’t soon forget the first time he stepped back on the Harwich field. He had last played high school ball there. This time he was a bona fide Cape Leaguer, his parents, Barbara and Jeffrey watching from the stands. 

Although he noted that it was a little strange being in the visitor’s dugout, all that mattered was being on a League team, a team he has come to love. "This is everything I’ve ever dreamed of," he said. "I am loving every minute of it."

By Kathleen Szmit Manwaring
kmanwaring@barnstablepatriot.com