Mark has owned and operated Firecracker Baseball, now  Firecracker Sports since its inception in 2008. The company has grown from 6 teams that very first year to over 380+ teams in 2019. Some of his proudest moments running Firecracker Baseball are when we can include former players, current players as staff, coaches and other roles within the company, some are listed below.

During his playing days, he graduated from Bishop Feehan in 1997 on a team that went 20-2 his senior year and won the EAC Conference. Mark was a pitcher during that time and continued on at Salve Regina University playing 4 years and during his senior year won the Conference Championship and competed in the NCAA Division III Tournament in Harwich, Massachusetts.

After playing finished in 2001 he went into coaching at different levels through the Pawtucket RBI (Reviving Baseball in the Inner Cities) Program, bringing his teams to the World Championships in 2001, 2002 and 2004. For the next 8 years Mark also coached American Legion baseball in Cumberland, RI and High School baseball at the Wheeler School in Providence, RI and at Bishop Feehan HS in Attleboro, MA. After Bishop Feehan HS finished in the top 25 in the state of Massachusetts in 2014, Mark moved onto Dean College as a recruiting coordinator/assistant coach ultimately ending up at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island as the top assistant/pitching coach for the last 2 years concluding in 2018.

Coach Cooke was named the Head Coach of the Coastal team for the prestigious Bay State Games in Massachusetts in 2014. He carried that role through 2018 when Skip McCarty took over the position and lead the Coastal team to medals in 3 out of the last 4 years. Coach Cooke has coached over 91 players that have moved onto the collegiate level and 13 players that have played professionally in his 17 years of coaching.

Don Perry has been with Mark Cooke and Firecracker Sports for all 12 years.  Don’s vast experience in coaching baseball encompasses over 15 successful years at numerous levels of the game to include town, travel, high school and college baseball.  Some of the teams Don coached with were Team Nokona, New England Predators, Bishop Feehan High School, North Attleboro High School and Salve Regina University.

After 20 years in public service, Don is pursuing his passion now full time by staying connected to the game he loves and coaching in a slightly different way.  As Director of Operations, Don will wear a variety of hats. His favorite hat to put on though is the one when his job entails giving the players the resources they need to improve their skills and make the successful transition from one level of the game to the next. Don helps find quality venues for our tournaments, top notch competition to improve players athletic skills,  the latest resources and technology to assist players in their growth, and with connections between players and college coaches.

Dan oversees the softball operations with our events, team relations and marketing. He has served in many capacities for USA Softball of RI including 30 years as player and 25 years as an umpire. Recently he has served as the USA Softball RI Board Member in the role of Player Representative. In addition to his softball services, Dan has a bachelor of science in marketing from URI and has met memorable individuals such as Jennie Finch and Jessica Mendoza. Began current role in 2020 and has a passion for softball and making the player’s experience the very best every time he steps on the field as an umpire, tournament director and much more.

If interested apply today!

Serve as primary Videographer, Photographer and Editor covering all Firecracker Sports events. Started with Firecracker Sports in late 2020 as Video Freelancer. Began current role in January, 2021. Played Soccer collegiately at CCRI and Southern Connecticut State, graduating in 2017. Coaches Soccer at youth and collegiate level. Rob looks to increase our production value and better market  both individuals and teams.

Bryon oversees the facility sales operations for our teams, programs and clients. He has worked in this industry for over 20+ years for organizations such as Sport Facility, On Deck Sports and GT Grandstand. Coached collegiately at Bridgewater State University and Curry College for 10+ years. Began current role in 2019 and has a passion for helping customers make their facilities the very best for their players and their teams’ development. Expertise and craftsmanship in his customer service are why the customers always return for their next product, service and much more.