This time of year always brings added excitement for the Rivera brothers. Older brother Noel and younger sibling Gabriel are teammates on the Suffield Academy baseball team.
Both excel in the classroom, within the community, and on the diamond. As for the many enjoyments they get representing the Connecticut school, perhaps the most pleasurable gratification comes from being teammates.
"Playing alongside my brother is one of my favorite things about playing here at Suffield,'' said Noel, a senior shortstop/second baseman. "We have a great relationship both on and off the field, which means our chemistry on the field helps a lot. We are the only two who speak Spanish, not only on the team but also on the field against most other teams. We can communicate with each other directly. We constantly lift each other up, and I feel very confident when he plays right beside me at third base. Off the field, we are inseparable. We've been told that we act more like best friends than brothers.''
Gabriel, a junior who can play multiple infield positions and pitch, says Noel has been the most influential person in his career.
