Josiah Ragsdale still remembers the moment — the noise, the nerves, the weight of it all.

Bases loaded, top of the eighth, Boston College was down a run to UMass in the Beanpot under the lights at Fenway Park. It was the kind of stage that feels larger than life, the kind kids imagine while playing wiffle ball in the yard or tossing a ball against the garage. In that moment, with everything on the line, Ragsdale didn’t think about the pressure—he thought about the joy.

“I was just trying to slow down, remind myself it's a kid's game,” he reflected. “Just going out there and having fun.”

He did just that, launching a grand slam over the Red Sox bullpen in right-center, flipping the game on its head with one of the biggest swings of his college career.

“Definitely high,” Ragsdale said of where that moment ranks. “I think definitely one for sure.”

Just two months later, Ragsdale and Boston College teammate Adam Magpoc found themselves back at Fenway — only this time in navy and teal, representing the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Though the setting was more low-key, the feeling of being on that field remained just as memorable. For Ragsdale and Magpoc, Wednesday’s “Fenway Day” was more than an off-day outing—it was a reminder of the ultimate goal, a personal return to a place that demands a pause to take it all in.

“You kind of want to strive to get to this point where this is your everyday field,” Magpoc said. “It doesn't get better than this. It's a surreal feeling every time you step onto the field. You get to see what it's like playing as a major leaguer on their home turf.”

That personal connection Ragsdale and Magpoc felt is just one layer of Boston College’s growing relationship with Fenway Park—a bond that continues to deepen with each passing season. This past year brought fresh energy to the tradition.

The ALS Awareness Game returned for its fourth straight run, and the Beanpot made its long-awaited comeback to Fenway for the first time since 2019, adding another chapter to the program’s partnership with one of baseball’s most iconic venues. With annual traditions like the ALS Awareness Game and the Beanpot, Fenway is part of their routine—not just a landmark, but a stage that players can grow into.

For Magpoc, who grew up nearly 3,000 miles away in Los Angeles, Boston has become a true “home away from home.” Through the deep-rooted traditions and culture of Boston College baseball, Fenway no longer feels like just a special venue—it feels like a homecoming. It's a place that carries the same emotional weight for him as it does for any native New Englander.

“It’s something greater than baseball, honestly,” Magpoc explained. “There’s so much rich culture within the Boston community that I think it goes hand in hand with what their vibe is.”

That sense of belonging is why these games stand apart. Players circle these dates months in advance—not for the opponents, but for the setting. Though the names across the field might not be major leaguers, the atmosphere makes it feel like the big leagues. By putting players on that stage, Boston College isn’t just creating moments — it’s building belief, showing how close the dream really is.

Kyle Kipp, the third Boston College player on the Whitecaps, wasn’t at Fenway Day but had his own moment pitching at Fenway earlier in the season during the Beanpot game against UMass.

A lifelong Red Sox fan, Kipp got the start at Fenway during the Beanpot game against UMass—the same game in which Ragsdale launched his grand slam. For Kipp, it felt like a scene out of a movie. His favorite player growing up was Chris Sale, and his favorite memory? Sale’s strikeout to seal the 2018 World Series. Now, Kipp was standing on that very mound where Sale had delivered so many iconic moments.

He tossed 4.1 innings, allowed just three earned runs, and struck out four. The experience, he said, was surreal—a vivid reminder of the dream he’s still chasing.

“I'm from Connecticut, so it was always great going to Red Sox games growing up,” Kipp said. They were my favorite team. So it was truly just a surreal moment… just taking the mound for the Beanpot game, just like all the big leaguers do—even though I'm still in college—but still doing what they're doing, hopefully it's manifesting the future.”

While Kipp had already lived out his Fenway dream, for many of his Brewster teammates, the recent visit marked their first time stepping foot inside the iconic park. That gave the BC trio — with their previous Fenway experiences — a sort of veteran presence leading up to the trip. With a ballpark so rich in history, there’s plenty to miss without a guide.

Ragsdale encouraged teammates to soak it all in—whether by pausing quietly or just absorbing the atmosphere. Magpoc added levity, sharing Red Sox trivia and pointing out the famous red seat marking Ted Williams’ legendary home run spot.

What once served as the backdrop for a midseason in-state rivalry, with friends, family, and alumni in the stands, now feels like something more—a point of connection between college baseball and the next level. It’s a setting where players can reflect on how far they’ve come while keeping sight of where they hope to go.

“It feels like it's like my first time again,” Ragsdale said. “It's still as cool as it was the first time. I think just being out here, just a big league park with these guys from across the country—big players… It's very special.”

Baseball rarely offers clarity in real time, but Fenway has a way of sharpening perspective. It’s not just the atmosphere or the history carved into the Green Monster and Pesky Pole—it’s what the park represents. What once felt distant or unattainable suddenly feels within reach. Whether it’s a grand slam, a start on the mound, or a few solid swings in batting practice, the moments carry more weight.

Returning to Fenway with Brewster wasn’t about looking back—it was a chance to look ahead through a more focused lens. The Beanpot emotions still echo, but stepping onto that field in a new jersey reframes the experience. At Stony Brook Field in Brewster, banners of former Whitecaps who once stood under these same lights hang as quiet proof: this place can be a turning point.

For now, it’s Fenway Day. Tomorrow, it might be the first line in a much bigger story.

Title photo credit: Kayla McCullough.