Whiz Kid: Tommy Keenan

Swampscott’s has a cool summer job with the , working with kids Monday through Friday at the Middle School on Forest Avenue.

“I like it, it’s a lot of fun, I come every day during the week from nine until noon, and lead the kids in games and activities that include whiffle ball, kick ball and some ping pong,” Keenan said.

Do the kids ever pump Keenan for information or tips on baseball during the program?

“Yea, a lot of the kids know I played baseball for the , so they ask me questions about baseball, sometimes hitting, sometimes pitching,” Keenan said.

Keenan is very modest in his assessment of his talents on the baseball field; he was co-captain of the 2011 squad that made it to the state tournament.

“One of our captains, one of our big-game pitchers, a kid who I could always count on for maximum effort, and absolutely a leader, a great leader for our team,” varsity baseball coach T. J. Baril said during this past baseball season.

Keenan and the rest of the Swampscott nine were upset at home in the first round of the state tournament, losing to Austin Prep.

“It was disappointing for sure,” Keenan said. “We had hoped, as a group to get things going in the tournament.”

Austin Prep limped into the playoffs after a huge loss to Bishop Fenwick; Swampscott came in with a tight victory over the Crusaders.

“You never know, we thought we were ready (against Austin Prep) but we couldn’t get anything going,” Keenan said.

Keenan made the varsity baseball team as a junior and was voted in as co-captain heading into his senior season.

“I just tell the kids to work hard and good things will happen, my time under the coaches, especially coach Geraci, were incredible, it went by so quickly, but I’ll have a lifetime of memories,” Keenan said.

Keenan’s fondest memories on the mound for the Big Blue were a relief win over Gloucester during his junior year, his first varsity appearance, and getting a win over Marblehead this season.

Keenan, who lives on Longley Avenue with his family, loved his history classes at SHS and the long talks with assistant coach Tony Geraci about baseball over the years.

Keenan has an older sister, Laura, who attends Emmanuel College, and he will be off to Bryant College in September.

“It’s great to have these kids around, I remember when I was in the sixth grade, this is a fun job,” Keenan said.

“I try to tell the kids in the Rec Program that it’s not always the biggest and the best players who succeed, but more often than not, it’s the players who pay attention to the coaches and work the hardest that get it done.”