RallyNorth.net

Andover Golden Warriors Baseball '08

Breaking out: Hennessy following in brothers' footsteps to excel for Andover baseball

  • Currently 0.0 with 0 votes.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Wednesday, May, 07 By David Willis
Staff writer

ANDOVER -- There is no arguing that John Hennessy, just a sophomore, is emerging as a star for Andover High. But there was a time during the fall when Hennessy worried if he would even be healthy for baseball season.


"I was running towards the end zone," he remembered. "I stepped out of bounds and got pushed. I put my arm out to break my fall and felt my elbow pop out."


The play, in the third JV football game of the season, left him a dislocation of his left, non-throwing elbow. He knew his football season was over, so one thought came to mind: What about baseball season?


A year ago, as a freshman, he became the third Hennessy brother to make the Andover varsity baseball team. He opened the season as the starting second baseman, then moved to shortstop.


"We didn't have a solid defensive second baseman and John showed he could play at the varsity level during camp," said coach Ken Maglio. "A few games into the season we decided to try him at shortstop, and he was just a natural and continued to progress into quite a defensive player."


But trouble struck in football, when the quarterback suffered his elbow injury.


"I was scared because I didn't know how bad it was and I wasn't sure how long it would take to get back," he said. "I didn't know what the future setbacks might be. I really wanted to get ready for baseball."


But doctors reassured him that, with some work, he could be back to normal in three months. He spent four days in a cast, then was fitted with a metal brace that was adjusted gradually to bring back his complete range of motion. He also had to deal with the mental aspect of the injury.


"I had to get over the mind set that if I fell on my arm it would break," he said. "I was scared that if I bumped my elbow it would hurt it. But I got over it."


Once he was cleared, be began work to strengthen his forearm, bicep and tricep with light weightlifting and push-ups, among other exercises. As soon as he was done with that, he finally got to what he was waiting for, baseball.


"I went to the batting cage a lot and we had captains' practices," he said. "We did a lot of lifting and a lot of hitting drills. I also worked with (second baseman) Mike Taylor on double plays."


All that work had paid off in a big way for Hennessy.


Through seven games this season, the shortstop is leading the team in RBIs with nine, one better than Sam Clark. He is second on the Golden Warriors with a .487 (11 for 23) batting average, trailing only Merrimack College-bound outfielder P.J. Farnham's .500 (12 for 24) average. His eight runs are also second only to Farnham (10), and he has also developed into a top-flight shortstop.


"He is smooth and possesses a strong and accurate arm," said Maglio. "He has quick feel and soft hands."


Hennessy's biggest game of the season came against MVC rival Dracut. He was 3 for 4 with two runs scored and four RBIs.
"I'm a little surprised by my production," Hennessy admitted. "I worked very hard on my hitting in the offseason. My goal was to be one of the best hitters on the team, and that is looking pretty good right now."


It is no surprise that he has found a home at Andover High's Peter Aumain Park. After all, excellence in baseball runs in the family.


"He was always there when he was young," said his father, Richard Hennessy. "Fortunately for him, as our other kids grew up, John was carted around to all of their games and he just couldn't wait to get out there and participate."


Brother Matt had his breakout season on the diamond as a senior in 2005, when he hit .352 with 20 runs and 18 RBIs. Brother Andrew emerged that same season, hitting .347 with 20 runs. He followed that up his senior season by hitting .379 with 24 runs and 21 RBIs, earning Eagle-Tribune All-Star honors.


"John has the best of both his older brothers' qualities," said Maglio. "He has Matt's confidence and ability to do all the little things. He has Andrew's smoothness in the field and excellent vision at the plate. Matt and Andrew were very good players; John can be one of our all-time best."


Hennessy sees following his brothers -- Matt is now a junior at Tufts and Andrew is a sophomore at the University of New Hampshire -- as a benefit.


"When I was younger they gave me a lot of advice," he said. "I would watch them and try to imitate them. They still call me and send me e-mails about the season. They congratulate me when I do well.


"But I have always wanted to be my own player. I don't wear one of their numbers (he wears 10, Matt wore 18 and Andrew wore 1)."


Once baseball season comes to a close, Hennessy will return to the football field, where he must follow in the footsteps of both brother Matt and record-setting signal-caller Mike Pierce.


Matt Hennessy started three years for Maglio on the gridiron at running back. He finished his career with 2,216 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He is currently a fullback and special-teamer at Tufts.


Pierce, a senior last season, set seven Andover High single-season and career records. He threw for 2,179 yards and 20 touchdowns last season, both school records, and was named All-Scholastic.


But, like always, Hennessy feels up to the challenge.


"I am very excited," said Hennessy, who also plays cornerback. "I love to throw the ball, and everyone is very positive. I learned a lot from watching Mike, and I think everyone believes in me and wants me to do well."


He has the confidence of his coach.


"He has the ability to lead our team at quarterback and have an outstanding season," said Maglio.

0 Story Comments