Playing Big: Jack Connelly SHS Baseball

By Alex Cohen

EVERYBODY has a story. Most don’t realize, but the moments that happen in high school are the moments that are remembered forever. These moments can build legacies, but they also can break them, which is a beautiful thing. They are the moments that set the tone for entering the adult world.

EVERYBODY does it differently. The honor roll, the school band, the computer, the weight room, the baseball field, the auditorium. Regardless of the place or thing, goals are set, and success is chased. Some are more driven than others, while others are quietly motivated, and there are others who simply just want it more than the average person. This is also a beautiful thing.

Despite using the word “EVERYBODY”, success is not meant for ANYBODY. Relentlessness, passion, hard work, and dedication are just some of the things that are required for success. Failure is unavoidable. There will be road-blocks in everyone’s journey.

Jack Connelly was a sixteen-year-old student who had just finished his sophomore season of football for Stoughton High School. Connelly had an entire winter off, as he waited for the snow to come and go, and the spring grass to perk, in order to begin his trot across the baseball diamond.

With this extra time, Connelly had a choice to make. He didn’t just think, but he knew, that it would be possible for him to button up the varsity jersey this upcoming spring. As a sophomore, he knew it would be tough, but if he put in the work, the results would follow.

And that is exactly what happened. Connelly said, “From the transition from football to baseball, in the winter off-season, I was in the weight room every day and I can say that I worked my a** off.” Although Connelly is not quite MLB material like Brandon Phillips, their focus is similar.

After suffering an injury, MLB player, Phillips, said, “I’ve been playing the last few days, that’s a blessing also. I’m just trying to take advantage of it. When it’s time for me to take a break, I’ll support the other guys to try and win.”

From Cincinnati to Stoughton, Phillips’ mentality links to Connelly’s, as Connelly said, “As such a young player, I do feel it is my duty to help [the team] as much as I can, even if that’s on the bench, keeping them in the game and keeping them loud 1 through 7 innings. It can’t be the first 4 innings, or the last 3. I feel I have to and try to lead by example, regardless of my age; I just don’t try and think about it like that. I just try and lead by example on the field or not.”

The right state of mind was certainly part of what made Jack Connelly rise, as he made the Varsity Baseball team for Stoughton High School. Reminiscing on his thoughts prior to receiving the news, Connelly said, “I was just pumped to get after it. Remembering that there was 10 seniors leaving, there were a lot of spots open for that team. And I knew if I worked hard, I had an excellent shot to be playing for that team… I was praying for my name to be called, and gratefully it was.”

Connelly also said, “I was ecstatic to be associated with names like Alex Acciavatti, Brian Crimmins, [and] Luke Butera, who were all Varsity athletes last year. It was a great feeling to know my hard work paid off.”

When asked about the hype and pressure surrounding him in his first few games as a varsity athlete, Connelly said, “Oh yeah, it’s a big thing to be out there, but I’m out there for a reason though, and I just have to maintain my composure, relax, and take deep breaths.”

Despite entering the new atmosphere that the team presents, Connelly remains humble and said, “With me and my best friend Ryan [Sullivan], playing day in and day out ever since Tee-Ball together, I knew going in, that we would be alright… I get to be out there with my best friend… The kid helps me through everything, on and off the field, and I’m glad he’s there for me.”

While he praised Sullivan and the other players on the team, Connelly did mention that he focuses mostly on himself in order to be an asset to the entire team of guys. Connelly said, “I stick to myself when it’s grind time… Prior to walking out to the field, I’m listening to music, and then I just kinda gather my thoughts together, relax, and think that I’m on the team for a reason. Go in, execute, and that’s what I usually do.”

Every developing, young player has their roots. Connelly talked about his freshman year, specifically, and said, “As freshmen, we were a pretty tight-knit group, and the transition to varsity was pretty difficult, but I feel that I can pick up on it over the course of the season. Just getting better and better day in and day out is what I’m all about and hope to do.”

Going deeper into his roots, Jack discussed the influence that his brother, Mike Connelly, has on him. [Jack] Connelly said, “He’s my role model throughout everything. Growing up I always wanted to be like him. Always. Now that I get to wear his number on my back makes it even better. Any little thing he does, has an impact on me. I follow in his footsteps. He was a big player, and has a big role in my heart.”

When asked about all the great things Mike Connelly did as a baseball player at Stoughton, and if that same mentality is expected out of Jack, the younger Connelly said, “With him making it [varsity] as a freshman, I felt there was a lot of expectations for me to carry out. Unfortunately, I didn’t but I’m not going to let my attitude get the best of me over that, you know? I can’t get frustrated; I’m not going to sit on that and let that alter my mentality for the game. I’m here now, as a sophomore, still a great thing to be proud of and I absolutely am.”

When particularly questioned about success in comparison to his brother, Connelly said, “I don’t really think about it that way. I just try and be the best Jack I can be. Regardless of my brother making it or not as a freshman, I’m not going to let that decide my fate.”

When asked about his most memorable game this season, Connelly said, “That Whitman-Hanson game we faced over April break. Total dogfight the whole game, you know? We came into the game thinking ‘oh this is an easy win’ but right out of the gate we did put up 8 big runs on them, big crooked number, which was very much-needed to keep our spirits alive, but they did not give up. They stayed in the game, and throughout the whole 7 innings it came down to a 11-12 game where we still had the lead. And then it came down to the last inning where Mike Manning was clutch.”

Admitting weaknesses is certainly one difficult thing to do. Connelly discussed his flaw of letting his frustration get the best of him at times, and also his coach’s advice on that. Connelly said, “Coach always says: ‘Physical errors are going to happen. It’s apart of the game. But mental errors cannot happen.’ And for me I gotta stay focused in the game. Every single inning, every single pitch. Once the mental part of the game is capsized, then the game itself is capsized.”

A talented team can go far, but a team with chemistry can go that much farther. Connelly was asked to discuss his views on some players on the team, and he said, “When I go in, I think ‘Okay, let’s get to work.’ There’s no one player that is shy on the team, everyone gels together, and we all work hard. Jordan ElKary is a great pitcher. He does what he needs to do and he keeps us in the game. I think he’s the piece that keeps us together at this point...Jake Gibb just leads by example. He can crush the ball a mile and when we need it, he comes up clutch in big situations.”

At this point in time, the Seniors are done with High school, and after the season is over, they will be done with Stoughton Baseball. When asked about their leave, Connelly said, “They’re going to be missed--a lot of leaders. Once they are gone the team has to have some new leaders to step up. Doug Seaman, the kid plays with his heart on his sleeve day in and day out and with that being said, I think he is going to be a big role model next year, as well as he is this year.”

So now that the talk is about the team, is this Stoughton High baseball team fitted for a playoff push? Connelly addressed this question, and said, “It’s the best of the best that make it. And I think we have a shot at that...You either make it or you don’t. The Hockomock is such a tough league to play in. Every game is a war. Being apart of this team is a great feeling. And the thought of being sent down to JV at any given moment just adds a little more fuel to the fire.”

Earlier this month, Connelly was sent down to the Junior Varsity team. Connelly responded to that by going two-for-three with a home run and a triple, along with a few runs scored and 4 innings pitched with 5+ strikeouts. That would be the first, and last JV game Connelly has played in this season.

Connelly remained positive when asked about potentially not making the playoffs this year. He said, “Whether we are a winning team or not this year, we are getting that experience. And that’s good, because next year when the seniors are gone we will still be a solid team with varsity experience.”

The Knights had their dark moments this year, but also their bright moments, as the season came down to the wire. Unfortunately, the Knights could not clinch a playoff berth on the last game of the season, in a 3-2 loss to Oliver Ames in extra innings. A disappointing end indeed, but the Knights can only keep their heads up, as young players, like Connelly, look to rise to stardom come next season. The focus and mindset are definitely in store.