Ryan Sullivan has lived baseball for years and will now be preparing to play Division 1 at the University of Connecticut.
The road to Storrs for the Hopkinton alum and former Hillers standout has consisted of playing for numerous teams in different areas all over the country.
Along with playing for Hopkinton all four years he put in the extra work over the summers to sharpen his game.
Sullivan started by playing for Team Nokona out of Ashland the summer after his freshman year and then made the jump to the Northeast Rays out of Littleton the following summer. The summer after his junior season is when the hard work really started to show.
After placing second at a national home run derby, a local scout at the showcase let the staff at EvoShield Canes Baseball out of Virginia know about Sullivan?s talent. EvoShield Canes is an organization that develops high school talent to play at the college level.
"I did a power showcase and the scout told (EvoShield Canes) about me and they asked me if I wanted to join," Sullivan said. "After talking to my parents about it I decided to go with them."
In that summer, Sullivan traveled around the country playing in tournaments and getting valuable exposure and experience playing against top competition.
His exposure just continued to grow throughout the years between his summer leagues and his time with Hopkinton, but his most valuable experience to date came this past summer after graduation. Sullivan?s coaches at UConn got him in touch with the Nashua Silver Knights of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League.
The FCBL is a summer league for primarily New England players at all collegiate levels, but each team is allowed three high school exemptions, which is where Sullivan falls under for the Silver Knights.
"They got in touch with me and let me know they talked to my coaches and they said I could go up there and play with them," said Sullivan.
Sullivan has made his UConn coaches look very smart in recommending him to the Nashua organization. In 25 games, he is batting .267 with 20 RBIs, 13 runs, two home runs, and seven doubles. Sullivan is third on the team in home runs and RBIs and the Knights are currently second in the league with a 34-18 record entering Friday.
On top of facing some top-notch competition to prepare himself for his upcoming season at UConn, Sullivan has learned some valuable lessons from teammates that have already experienced it.
"The guys are all really helpful and they have given me an idea of what to expect when I get here (UConn)," Sullivan said. "Not to get too frustrated when things aren?t going well and keep working hard and stay focused on what is ahead.
"Worry about the team and not so much about your personal stats because it can get you in a funk and get in your head. Need to look at the bigger goal ahead."
Sullivan has been playing third and first base for the Silver Knights this season and will look to play third for the Huskies, but will not rule out the possibility of going to first or even the outfield. As he learned this year, it?s what is best for the team and that will also help him to achieve his goal ? to start as a freshman.
"I need to work really hard," he said, "and get myself into position to possibly have a chance at a starting position and just keep working hard."
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