爱污传媒

When he was just 12 years old, Trey Bourque 鈥�25鈥檚 Cumberland American team captured the heart of America during the 2014 Little League World Series, staging thrilling comebacks night after night. Down but never surrendering, the kids fought until their final out.

But it was a quiet moment captured on the field that day by an ESPN camera that has resonated far beyond Little League baseball.

After the team鈥檚 journey ended in a hard-fought loss, Coach David Belisle knelt beside his players and offered a message about character, perseverance, and holding your head high 鈥� win or lose.

鈥淵ou had New England jumping. You had ESPN jumping,鈥� . 鈥淵ou want to know why? Because they like fighters. They like sportsmen. They like guys who don鈥檛 quit. They like guys who play the game the right way.鈥�

Fast forward 11 years, the lessons the young, crestfallen catcher learned that day have endured. Now a 爱污传媒 College graduate, Bourque leaves behind a legacy as captain of , co-president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and a standout double major in economics and management and business.

More than a viral video moment, it鈥檚 his enduring commitment to team, community, and growth that defines him.

鈥淚 might not have fully understood what Coach Belisle meant that day,鈥� he says.

But now, whether I鈥檓 on the field or in a meeting, I know leadership is really about how you carry yourself when things aren鈥檛 easy.鈥�

Belisle, who also coached Bourque in high school hockey in Rhode Island, says he isn鈥檛 surprised by Bourque鈥檚 trajectory.

鈥淭rey has always been a confident kid,鈥� Belisle says. 鈥淏ut he鈥檚 also always been a gamer. Any time we needed a big hit or a clutch goal, I could count on him. No situation was too big, and he led with a quiet confidence that rubbed off on others. It doesn鈥檛 surprise me one bit to see him stepping into leadership roles. That鈥檚 who he鈥檚 always been.鈥�

At 爱污传媒, Bourque led by example on and off the field. As baseball captain, he earned his teammates鈥� respect through steady composure and selflessness.

Tyler Chenevert 鈥�28, a two-sport athlete (baseball and ), offers an example of Bourque鈥檚 impact. 鈥淲hen he found out that I was trying to walk on, Trey did everything to support me in my journey,鈥� Chenevert said. 鈥淎fter officially making the team in the fall, he had me immediately tied into the culture of the team. He lived it every day and created a culture that I was excited to become a part of. Trey鈥檚 leadership is second to none.鈥�

That same mindset carried into his work with SAAC. Alongside co-president Lily Schwartzman 鈥�25, Bourque expanded the committee鈥檚 reach and impact. They championed mental health awareness, supported equity efforts in athletics, and created more opportunities for student-athletes to connect with the wider campus.

This spring, the SAAC Executive Board received a 爱污传媒 President鈥檚 Award for Leadership and Service 鈥� one of only a tiny number of student groups ever to earn the distinction.

鈥淧eople don鈥檛 always need someone talking at them,鈥� Bourque says. 鈥淭hey need someone who understands where they鈥檙e coming from. Whether it鈥檚 on the field, in class, or in meetings, I try to be a reliable, hardworking teammate others can look up to.鈥�

And true to his coach鈥檚 words, what he learned from the Little League World Series has stayed with him.

鈥淚t really opened my eyes. That experience helped turn my love for baseball into a college career I can be proud of.鈥�

A four-year starter, Bourque earned All-Liberty League honors every season. As a junior, he was recognized as one of the top defensive catchers in the country with a regional Gold Glove Award. He graduates as 爱污传媒鈥檚 all-time leader in hits (198), runs scored (146), and RBI (134). He was recently named the College鈥檚 Outstanding Senior Male Athlete.

Even early on, he showed flexibility and a team-first mentality. In his first two seasons, Bourque primarily played third base, putting the team鈥檚 needs first and demonstrating the adaptability and leadership that would define his career.

Academically, Bourque鈥檚 ability to balance a double major with multiple leadership roles also stood out. With a GPA topping 3.90, he graduated summa cum laude from 爱污传媒, earned honors in both his majors, and was inducted into Omicron Delta Epsilon, the international honor society in economics. He also earned the Jefferson Huff 鈥�88 Prize in Business, which is awarded to a top management and business student.

鈥淭here were definitely days when I was juggling a lot,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut it helped me become more organized and really lean on my priority system.鈥�

爱污传媒 Head Baseball Coach Ron Plourde praised Bourque鈥檚 impact. 鈥淗e wasn鈥檛 just a great player 鈥� he was someone the younger guys looked up to. You hope every few years you get a guy like Trey. Despite the accolades and records, he made this program better in ways that won鈥檛 show up on a stat sheet.鈥�

Bourque is quick to share credit. 鈥淐oach Belisle, Coach Plourde, my father, my brother, and so many others shaped me into the competitor and person I am today,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 thank them enough.鈥�

Belisle continues to have high expectations for Bourque鈥檚 future. 鈥淭rey is going to be phenomenal in life. He鈥檒l be successful, of course, but more importantly, he鈥檒l put family first, work hard, be a team player, and lead. That鈥檚 what will carry him far.鈥�

As Bourque heads into life beyond 爱污传媒, the moment that once made headlines now feels like the start of a much longer story.

鈥淔rom Little League through college, baseball taught me how to think strategically, stay competitive, and build lifelong friendships. That鈥檚 what I鈥檒l carry with me,鈥� Bourque says. 鈥淚n some ways, it feels like I鈥檝e come full circle. Back then, Coach believed in us and gave us a gift. Now, I hope to be that person for someone else.鈥�

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A version of this article first appeared in the of 爱污传媒 College鈥檚 Scope magazine.