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08/18/2016 12:00 AMSean Kellaher has never met a position that he didn’t like on the baseball field and, because of his diverse skillset, Sean has become a prominent player and leader in the Guilford baseball community.
Sean, who competes for both the Guilford Indians and Post 48 Senior Legion, experienced a great deal of success playing Little League in town and earned several bids to All-Star teams. This past spring, Sean went from playing the two corner infield spots to the middle of the diamond with the Indians, after which he continued expanding his horizons by occasionally pitching for the Post 48 Seniors. He also batted .300 while helping Guilford win 12 games and return to the State Tournament. Sean is about to begin his final year at the high school and will lead that club as a senior captain in 2017.
“In Little League, I had a great experience playing on those All-Star teams. Little League helped shape who I am today as a baseball player and helped give me a winning attitude. I’ve just had that team-first mentality and the fact that I can go anywhere to help the team is great,” Sean says. “I pitched this summer and I hadn’t pitched since I was 12. I used to just play the corners in the infield, but I started to play second in high school this year, and then I played shortstop. I felt more involved playing short because I felt there was a lot more action on defense.”
Sean often hits the gym and says those extra reps played a big part in him becoming a threat at the dish. With the leather, Sean’s shift to the middle infield positions helped him develop some rapid reflexes.
“Last year, I started going to the gym and I think it really helped my hitting. I’ve become more of a contact hitter that gets singles and doubles,” Sean says. “With switching to the middle of the infield, I think my hands and my reaction time have improved, which helps me deal with hops on the ball.”
Senior Legion skipper Michael Yates praises Sean for being the type of player who can fill any need on the team. Yates adds that Sean’s demeanor sets a great example for Post 48’s up-and-comers.
“He’s one of those guys that can play every position and fill any spot in the lineup,” says Yates. “He always has a great attitude and it’s contagious, especially towards the younger guys.”
Last summer marked Sean’s first season with the Guilford Senior Legion team. The fact that Post 48 only won two games left a bitter taste for Sean, but that just made this year’s 10-win turnaround even sweeter.
“Being a part of the team this year and the success meant a lot to me. I remember my first year last year when we won two games,” says Sean. “But this year, we won 10 more games, plus making states was huge. I hope it carries over into the next high school and Legion seasons.”
Speaking of the high school team, Sean feels excited to hold a leadership role with the Indians. After earning All-SCC Hammonasset Division honors as a junior, Sean hopes to have a positive impact on his teammates when Guilford will try and climb toward greater heights next spring.
“Being named a captain is a huge honor for me. It means I have to be a role model for everyone and help carry the coaches’ mentalities both on and off the field,” says Sean, who thanks his dad Marty, Indians’ baseball Head Coach Brian Hayden, and Yates. “Hopefully, we can win our division next year and become real contenders.”