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NASHUA — Aiden O’Connell has settled into a summer routine.
The Bedford resident and pitcher starts once a week for the defending New England Collegiate Baseball League champion Keene Swamp Bats. On his off days, O’Connell does mobility training, throwing sessions and watches baseball with his teammates.
“That’s really the best part,” said O’Connell, a lefty who pitched the Swamp Bats to a 2-1 exhibition win over the Nashua Silver Knights of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League on Monday night at Holman Stadium. “It’s been a pleasure being here.”
The seven-inning bout was the first ever between the state’s only summer collegiate baseball teams and the inaugural game of the “Granite State Showdown.” The teams will meet again on Tuesday, July 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Alumni Field in Keene.
O’Connell, who allowed one run and struck out seven over five innings against Nashua, said the routine has been beneficial.
“After a couple weeks or so, you realize, ‘Oh, this is what I do.’ ...and it relieves a lot of pressure on the mound when you’re out there,” said O’Connell, who grew up in Goffstown before his family moved to Bedford before his senior year of high school. “You know you’ve done all the work to be able to succeed.”
The 2023 Gatorade New Hampshire Baseball Player of the Year as a senior at Bedford High, O’Connell played his first season at Duke University this past spring.
The Vanderbilt transfer pitched mostly in relief for the Blue Devils, posting an 0-1 record, seven saves and a 6.67 ERA. O’Connell recorded 34 strikeouts over 27 innings.
With the Swamp Bats, O’Connell has started five games, posting an 0-2 record and 6.14 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 14 2/3 innings.
O’Connell, who played for the Silver Knights in 2023, is part of a new Granite State contingent at Duke.
O’Connell was roommates last year with Swanzey resident and former Swamp Bat Ben Dean, a fellow pitcher and his former AAU baseball teammate. Blue Devils sophomore infielder Will Shaheen is from Portsmouth.
Last season was the first for Manchester’s Corey Muscara as Duke’s head coach. The former Trinity High School star’s coaching staff includes former Southern New Hampshire University coach Scott Loiseau.
“Having those four guys with me,” O’Connell said, “it just makes it much easier knowing that even if you’re from a part of the (country) no one really knows and you get down to the ACC and the SEC, in the back of my mind I know anyone can do it.”
O’Connell considers himself a versatile pitcher. He throws a four-seam fastball, cutter, curveball and a changeup.
Seventh-year Swamp Bats manager Shaun McKenna said O’Connell’s pitching style is like his personality: high energy. McKenna and the coaching staff are working with O’Connell to perfect his changeup.
McKenna is an old-school manager, O’Connell said. When McKenna talks with O’Connell during a mound visit, he’s direct about how he feels O’Connell is pitching.
“That’s the criticism I like,” O’Connell said. “He keeps it very simple — no need to overthink.”
Next season at Duke, O’Connell said he wants to take the mound with confidence and feel like he’s “the guy,” as he has this summer with Keene.
McKenna, an assistant baseball coach at Keene State, said he believes O’Connell, if he makes some strides, can be a starter next spring for Duke.
“If he really works on his command, I think he could be a mid-week or Sunday starter for them. I do,” McKenna said. “He’s definitely a special kid.”
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The Bedford resident and pitcher starts once a week for the defending New England Collegiate Baseball League champion Keene Swamp Bats. On his off days, O’Connell does mobility training, throwing sessions and watches baseball with his teammates.
“That’s really the best part,” said O’Connell, a lefty who pitched the Swamp Bats to a 2-1 exhibition win over the Nashua Silver Knights of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League on Monday night at Holman Stadium. “It’s been a pleasure being here.”
The seven-inning bout was the first ever between the state’s only summer collegiate baseball teams and the inaugural game of the “Granite State Showdown.” The teams will meet again on Tuesday, July 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Alumni Field in Keene.
O’Connell, who allowed one run and struck out seven over five innings against Nashua, said the routine has been beneficial.
“After a couple weeks or so, you realize, ‘Oh, this is what I do.’ ...and it relieves a lot of pressure on the mound when you’re out there,” said O’Connell, who grew up in Goffstown before his family moved to Bedford before his senior year of high school. “You know you’ve done all the work to be able to succeed.”
The 2023 Gatorade New Hampshire Baseball Player of the Year as a senior at Bedford High, O’Connell played his first season at Duke University this past spring.
The Vanderbilt transfer pitched mostly in relief for the Blue Devils, posting an 0-1 record, seven saves and a 6.67 ERA. O’Connell recorded 34 strikeouts over 27 innings.
With the Swamp Bats, O’Connell has started five games, posting an 0-2 record and 6.14 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 14 2/3 innings.
O’Connell, who played for the Silver Knights in 2023, is part of a new Granite State contingent at Duke.
O’Connell was roommates last year with Swanzey resident and former Swamp Bat Ben Dean, a fellow pitcher and his former AAU baseball teammate. Blue Devils sophomore infielder Will Shaheen is from Portsmouth.
Last season was the first for Manchester’s Corey Muscara as Duke’s head coach. The former Trinity High School star’s coaching staff includes former Southern New Hampshire University coach Scott Loiseau.
“Having those four guys with me,” O’Connell said, “it just makes it much easier knowing that even if you’re from a part of the (country) no one really knows and you get down to the ACC and the SEC, in the back of my mind I know anyone can do it.”
O’Connell considers himself a versatile pitcher. He throws a four-seam fastball, cutter, curveball and a changeup.
Seventh-year Swamp Bats manager Shaun McKenna said O’Connell’s pitching style is like his personality: high energy. McKenna and the coaching staff are working with O’Connell to perfect his changeup.
McKenna is an old-school manager, O’Connell said. When McKenna talks with O’Connell during a mound visit, he’s direct about how he feels O’Connell is pitching.
“That’s the criticism I like,” O’Connell said. “He keeps it very simple — no need to overthink.”
Next season at Duke, O’Connell said he wants to take the mound with confidence and feel like he’s “the guy,” as he has this summer with Keene.
McKenna, an assistant baseball coach at Keene State, said he believes O’Connell, if he makes some strides, can be a starter next spring for Duke.
“If he really works on his command, I think he could be a mid-week or Sunday starter for them. I do,” McKenna said. “He’s definitely a special kid.”
[email protected]
Continue reading...
