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Pete Parise: A Postseason Pleasure

Last night, the Memphis Redbirds, a team that was not sure it would even be making the initial round of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) Playoffs, won the first game in the PCL Championship round.  By a score of 1-0, the Redbirds were able to secure a series lead against the heavily favored Sacramento River Cats.

Third baseman David Freese provided the lone Memphis run off of a solo shot against starting pitcher Chris Gissell.  A group of five Memphis pitchers did not give up a single run.  The final pitcher to lock down the game for the ‘Birds was Pete Parise, who made his fourth performance in as many playoff games that Memphis has appeared in this postseason.  In all four appearances, Parise has been lights out.  He has yet to give up a run, and has three pivotal saves.

As reported by Ben Spradling,

“You really have to hand it to the pitching staff,” [David] Freese said. “I hit a couple of home runs that put us on top, but our pitching staff was unbelievable. They have been unbelievable all year, so you really have to tip your hat to them.”

The tail end of that staff has been closer Pete Parise, who once again put on a solid performance in the ninth to earn his third postseason save, a Memphis Redbirds franchise record. The right-hander has appeared in every playoff game and has retired 12 of the 13 batters he has faced.

The Puerto Rico World Baseball Cup team will have to wait a little while before they get to enjoy Parise’s arm.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.