2025 MSBL/MABL Player Profile: Adam Burke, New Mexico Adult Baseball League
By Steve LaMontia-Carlentini, MSBL Director of Communications
31-year-old Adam Burke is a displaced Boston Red Sox fan who resides in beautiful New Mexico.
“I grew up outside of Boston, and we moved to New Mexico around 13,” said Burke. “I went to high school here and then played two years of college ball in Oklahoma. I accepted a job as pitching coach at V. Sue Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho, my alma mater, and just received my Master’s degree to teach and coach there. I enjoy being a high school teacher and coach. But I will forever be an all-around Boston fan!”
Adam is also an important part of the New Mexico Adult Baseball League, located in and around Albuquerque. League President Bryan DeShayes had this to say:
“I’d like to nominate Adam Burke of the 18+ Skysox from our league in New Mexico as someone to interview. He is an outstanding long-time manager and player who manages one of the best teams in the league. Adam is an exemplary member of the league.”
That’s all we needed to know to dig further into Adam’s story. Adam was nice enough to give us a minute from his busy schedule to chat a little bit.
I see that you obtained your Master’s degree in teaching, so your profession is obviously very important to you.
“I teach World History to sophomores, which can be challenging, but I get to see them grow up a little later, especially when I see them graduate. I feel like I had a little something to do with them getting to that point. It’s a good feeling.
I’ve been doing this for seven years, and the toughest challenge is attempting to continually find the balance between the kids, parents, and phones! I feel that this is what I was meant to do.” 
How did MSBL come into your life?
“I first started in 2019, the year before COVID. I decided to put a team together, but we didn’t attain much momentum because 2021 was lost because we couldn’t find access to fields.
I play on and manage the Skysox in our 18-over division. I pitch and manage, along with a little hitting. I have a rubber arm and once pitched three games back-to-back-to-back!
In 2022 we finished in fourth or fifth place, in 2023, we lost in the championship, and then in 2024, we got knocked out in the semi-finals. We finished the year with only ten guys.”
Is there a memorable Skysox moment?
“Probably in our first year. We were like fifth in the standings, and we ran into a crazy inning, where we were down 6-0, and then put up 16 runs without making an out! No errors, just all clean hits. We won something like 27-8. It was an amazing inning. I even hit a home run and I’m not much of a hitter.”
Have you or the team been to Arizona for the MSBL World Series?
“I have been to Arizona a couple of times. The last two years, we merged and took two teams instead of three. We usually compete in the 25+ Central and Cactus divisions. We are usually either the Skysox or the Dukes.”
I understand that you had a pretty exciting World Series tournament last year for a very important reason.
“It was pretty hectic. I had made special plans to propose to my fiancé, Megan, on the Friday night of the tournament, but she didn’t come down to Arizona and stayed back in New Mexico.
I went out and threw eight innings on Wednesday, then threw three innings and four innings the next day in a double-header, then flew back and proposed. We are getting married this October at the exact same time as the tournament, so I will miss the World Series this year. But, I don’t dare mess this up!”
Do you help Bryan with league duties in any capacity?
“I don’t help too much with the league, but I try to help facilitate fields with high school coaches I know. Fields are always the biggest concern and keep us from expanding too much.
There are a lot of guys on our eight teams right now, so maybe any expansion can come from within. Maybe we can get to ten teams eventually, but not much more. For example, we have 23 guys on our Skysox roster. On any given day, between 12 and 17 guys will show up. Most teams are in a similar situation. Bryan does an incredible job with the league and keeping everything organized.”
Any final comments?
“I really enjoy playing for MSBL. It is a great outlet for competitiveness. I have played competitively my whole life, and it’s great to be associated with a professional. I also enjoy the tournaments, though so far I have only played in the World Series. I have played in the July Rocky Mountain Baseball Bash in Colorado Springs a couple of times and hope to again. It is great to be able to play in both regional and national tournaments!
