Where Are They Now: Nick Levitre

Nick Levitre graduated from Grafton High School in 2007, where he was a four-year member of the Indians’ baseball team. Levitre also participated in basketball for one year and football for both his freshmen and junior years. While at Grafton, Levitre flourished at the game of baseball and over his four-year career helped the Indians reach the playoffs and stay competitive. When it came time to choose a college, he decided on Mass. Maritime mainly for the opportunities after college in the field of emergency management and homeland security.

As a freshman at Mass. Maritime, Levitre pitched the Buccaneers into the ECAC Tournament sporting the second lowest ERA in the conference. He pitched well again his sophomore year, but ended up having to get elbow surgery limiting his pitching role in his junior year. During his third season with the Buccaneers he played primarily left field and batted over .400 on the season. Levitre is in his final season and is back to pitching as well as playing left field for the Bucs.

This past semester Levitre interned at the Danvers Fire Department and hopes to one day work for the DEA after he finishes up college. His favorite professional team is the New England Patriots and his favorite player is former Pats’ wide receiver Randy Moss.

Favorite food: Fettuccini Alfredo

Favorite movie: The Fighter

Favorite videogame: Call of Duty

Favorite music: Rap

If you had the opportunity to face any pitcher in the major leagues, who would you hit against and why?

I’d probably like to face Jonathan Papelbon to see if I could hit his fastball.

What have you been up to since graduating from Grafton High School almost four years ago?

Well, I decided to attend Mass Maritime Academy, mainly to major in emergency management and homeland security. I’ve always had an interest in that kind of stuff and I kind of wanted to do something with that when I graduate. I’ve been playing baseball here for four years now. I’m going into my senior season and I’m just looking forward to my future.

How have the baseball seasons gone over the last few years for you?

Freshmen year, we actually had a really good team. We made it to the ECAC Tournament, but lost in the finals. On a personal note, I pitched really well. I had the second lowest ERA in the conference and I pitched well my sophomore year until I started having arm troubles and had to get elbow surgery. I had to get a piece of my ulna nerve cut out and sewn back together and they scrapped out a bunch of scar tissue, so I didn’t really pitch much my junior year; I played left field instead and batted over .400. This year, we’re doing pretty well and I’m doing OK.

What made you choose Mass Maritime in the first place and where else were you looking to go to school?

I was actually interested in going to Westfield and was going to play baseball there. I ended up applying to Mass Maritime late and got accepted. I realized that there are a lot of job opportunities coming out of this school, they help you with internships and there are a lot of connections. So I spoke with the baseball coach and he seemed really interested. I came to a couple of games and it was a good program looking to turn around and I just ended up coming here mainly not for baseball, but the career after.

Can you talk about your Grafton High School experience and if you have any favorite moments or memories on or off the field during your time there?

I don’t have any specific one favorite moment; I just remember playing football and baseball there [Grafton]. Baseball was a really good time, we won a lot of games and we always had good teams. I played with a close group of friends, so that made it easy; we had a lot of team chemistry. We had a lot of fun, made it to the playoffs every year and came up short, but it was still a good time.

At what age did you fall in love with the game of baseball and what kept you playing it after all these years?

I’d say probably around the age of ten, when I started playing in the All-star tournaments; it was always a great experience, a lot of my friends played too. We were always pretty much on the same teams, even in high school and we all pretty much remained on the same team. I just had a passion for it ever since [All-star tournaments].

Who has been the most influential person or people in your life so far?

I’d say not one specific person, but both my parents, they always pushed me to pursue things I enjoy, especially baseball in college. They definitely wanted me to play because I had a passion for it; they pushed me to play.

What kind of hobbies do you have or what do you like to do in your downtime.

I usually play pickup basketball a lot, every day, but not during baseball season. We’ll go outside and play football and of course video games are in there. We’ll go to the beach a lot in the late spring when baseball is done and it’s warm out.