Feehan’s fearsome Stephenson
Shamrocks’ slugger turning heads at the plate
The top left-handed amateur hitter in Massachusetts might be in Attleboro.
With high-level bat speed and raw power, Bishop Feehan senior Sean Stephenson has become one of the top mustsee players in the area, sporting an average above .500 to go with three home runs. Stephenson will continue his playing career at the University of Connecticut.
“Sometimes it hurts to watch Sean swing because he’s so violent,” Bishop Feehan coach Erik Everton said. “He’s got such great torque and power in his swing. He’s a big threat every time he steps up there.”
Sean grew up around the game courtesy of his older brothers, Colin and Zach. When his mom was at work, the three would partake in some Wiffle Ball right in the living room.
“Thank God my mom never walked in on us, because we would hit bombs,” Sean joked.
Colin and Zach both ended up at Bishop Feehan. Colin headed to Quinnipiac solely focused on academics, and Zach developed into a highlevel player with explosive speed, power to the gaps, and premium athleticism, blazing the trail to UConn.
Sean’s sophomore season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but his recruitment skyrocketed that 2020 summer. Playing for the New England Scorpions on the AAU circuit, Sean got better, hitting for power consistently and increasing his bat speed.
“At that point the game really started to slow down for me,” Sean said. “I was producing more against better competition. Then as soon as I looked at UConn, I knew that’s where I wanted to be.”
The 5-foot-11 senior outfielder took Northeasternbound Aiven Cabral deep earlier this season in a win over St. Mary’s. He has 12 runs scored and three triples to go with four stolen bases. Bishop Feehan is 9-3 and eyeing the state tournament.
“Sean is a very determined young man,” Everton said. “I know when he gets to college he is going to continue to work to improve. Most impressively, he has great knowledge of the game.”
Reading or not
Reading softball is off to an impressive 11-2 start.
Highlighting the team’s performance is hurler
Analise Grady, who had 11 strikeouts against North Reading, 13 versus Wakefield, and 15 in a two-hit shutout against Arlington. Offensively, Ava Kiley, Ella Haley, Sally Cashin, Jackie Malley, and Emily Martell pace the Rockets. Junior Caroline Higgins patrols second base and is a Holy Cross commit. Junior Katie Hurley has provided solid depth in both the lineup and outfield.
Big men on campus
A number of the top local standouts are impressing at the next level.
Former Lexington and BC superstar and current Milwaukee Brewers prospect Sal Frelick was promoted to Double-A Biloxi on Monday. Frelick was selected 15th overall by the Brewers in 2021. Sean Burke, who starred at St. John’s Shrewsbury and
Maryland, holds a 3.47 ERA to go with 27 strikeouts in 23 innings for Chicago White Sox High-A affiliate Winston-Salem. Wellesley native and BC High grad Mike Vasil has a 2.86 ERA for New York Mets A-affiliate Port St. Lucie.
And Jake Noviello, who led Franklin to a Div. 1A Super Eight championship in 2018, was named Collegiate Baseball News Pitcher of the Week after throwing a perfect game versus St. Peter’s on April 24.