Mitch Karraker has been surrounded by the game of baseball his entire life.

Hailing from Mountain View, California, the Harbor Hawks' newly minted skipper enjoyed a three-year playing career at the University of Oregon, where he served as a catcher and teammate to various Major Leaguers such as Tyler Anderson, Ryon Healy, Kyle Garlick, and Scott McGough.

During his playing days in the Pacific Northwest, Karraker began his collegiate career at Fresno City College, where he clubbed four home runs, drove in 39, and touted an impressive .355 batting average. After Fresno, Karraker served an important role across a trio of seasons with the Ducks. He collected 26 RBI, hit one home run, and posted a .319 career OBP while providing stellar defense behind the dish.

It's no secret Karraker has an intense love for the game. His passion is exactly how he's gotten to this point in his career -- at the helm of an up-and-coming franchise in the country's most prestigious summer collegiate league.

"I feel incredibly honored to be asked to manage this team," Karraker said. "The Cape Cod Baseball League is an exceptional place that everyone in the baseball community knows about and considers it the premier summer baseball experience for players and coaches."

Perhaps the strongest part of Karraker's resume is that he's coached an incredible variation of quality college baseball talent. This is something essential in the CCBL because of the dramatic roster changes throughout the summer, and the wide range of hometowns players come from.

Karraker began his coaching career at his alma mater Oregon, where he served as the administrative assistant during the 2014 and 2015 seasons, before taking over as the pitching coach for both the Ducks and Team USA in 2016. Before reaching Hyannis, Karraker made some other stops along the way. Some include being an assistant coach at LMU and Baylor, and the head coach of the Klamath Falls Gems in the West Coast Summer League.

"The CCBL is a unique opportunity to coach high-level baseball players that come from so many different backgrounds," Karraker said. "My experience coaching all over gives me a good understanding of where these players are coming from and what their goals are this summer. All the stops I've made in my coaching career have molded me into the coach I am today. I feel prepared to manage the Hawks because of them."

Fresno City Community College is Coach Karraker's current gig, also an alma mater which he competed at during the spring of 2008. He has been the head manager of the club since the fall of 2022 and recently led them to an outstanding 31-12 season this spring. His squad won the Central Valley Conference for the third straight season, this time going an impressive 18-6 during regular season play.

Karraker enters the helm with unusually high expectations for a first-year manager. This is solely due to the Harbor Hawks coming off back-to-back seasons in which the team made it to the semi-finals of the CCBL, only to fall short to the now back-to-back Cape League champion Bourne Braves.

There is something to be desired.

Nevertheless, Karraker's experiences before the Cape leave him calm, cool and collected when it comes to helping Hyannis achieve a goal that hasn't come to fruition since 1991.

"Coaching is about building relationships and helping players reach their highest potential," Karraker said. "I pride myself on building those relationships and making connections with the guys I coach. Development comes with trust and that is gained when you have a relationship with the player and they know you care about them. My greatest joy as a coach is watching a player grow, whether that's on the field or off. If I can be just a small part of the process, I'll do anything I can to help them achieve their goals."

Whether it is building relationships, molding players into the best they can be, or being a role model for many to look up to, Karraker is thrilled to be a part of it all this summer.

"I am so grateful to Dan Johnson and Nick Johnson and the whole Harbor Hawks organization for allowing me to have this opportunity," Karraker said. "I cannot wait to get to work and compete for a CCBL Championship."

Karraker and the Hyannis Harbor Hawks will begin the quest for a chance at Cape Cod Baseball glory this Saturday, June 15, at McKeon Park at 6 pm against the Falmouth Commodores.