Local Town Pages www.franklintownnews.com
August 1, 2012
Page 19
Franklin Sports
Brendan Skidmore Has Grown into His Baseball Talent BY CHRISTOPHER TREMBLAY Much like many young kids growing up, Franklin’s Brendan Skidmore has been playing baseball as far back as he can remember, but it wasn’t until his final season with the Panthers that he reached his potential and came into his own. While Skidmore found a passion for the game at a young age, it was his father who inadvertently got him involved. “My Dad (Mike) was a big influence on my playing the game, he was a pitcher in the Kansas City Royals AAA affiliate,” Skidmore said. “From there I played baseball for the love of the sport. It came naturally and was lot of fun.” After having a mediocre freshman season for the Panthers, Skidmore seemed to find the inspiration he needed in his Coach Josh MacCreery. “My freshman season was ok, nothing fantastic. My coach helped me to understand the game and keep my emotions in check,” he said. “It was something that I needed to go through to be the player that I am today.” Taking his coaches advice to heart, Skidmore began to progress as a player. During his sophomore campaign he made the varsity squad, but really didn’t expect to see any playing time due to the fact that the team already had a senior shortstop. However, three games into the season he got his chance
took full advantage of it and never looked back. Skidmore got the opportunity to pinch hit in the King Philip game and not only got his first varsity hit, but added an RBI in the process. From that game on, shortstop was his. “We had an injury at third so the coach moved the senior shortstop over as he had a stronger arm, and I took over his position," a humble Skidmore said. “It wasn’t something that I had expected, but from that point on I was just looking to do whatever I could to help the team.” Panther Head Coach Dave Niro not only saw potential in the sophomore, but the ability to make something of his first year shortstop. “Brendan had a lot of talent, but he was raw. Defensively he was a solid as they come, but at that stage of his career he was overmatched offensively,” the Franklin skipper said. “He began to hit the ball more in his junior year, but some this past season he put it all together.”
Skidmore was also named the MVP of the Metro West Classic and was picked to be a part of the Massachusetts All Star team that played the Connecticut All Stars. Although Connecticut defeated Massachusetts 5-3 the Franklin native went 1-3 with an RBI in the game that took place at Frazier Field in Lynn.
Brendan Skidmore is playing in his third season this summer with Franklin American Legion Post 75. Metro West Classic MVP and Mass. All-Star player is head to Bridgeton Academy in Maine to work on his game before choosing a college.
Put it all together he did. Playing in his third season under Niro, Skidmore batted .462 with 35 hits, 11 doubles, 3 triples and 5 homeruns while knocking in 21 runners and posting an ops of 1.395. For his effort he was named the Hockomock League MVP, not bad for a kid who had never even been named to an All Star team before his senior season.
said. "Like I said, I had seen the potential in him as a sophomore, but he really matured this year and took his game to the next level. His hitting was much better, he had a couple of big hits for us, but it was his defense that really helped this team. Brendan’s probably the best shortstop in the league and will play on the next level somewhere." Following this summer, where Skidmore is playing in his third season with the Franklin American Legion Post 75 team, he will head to Bridgeton Academy in Maine to work on his game before choosing a college.
“My junior year I did not have a great year hitting. I think that I put too much pressure on myself, but this year the pressure was off,” Skidmore said. “The Hock MVP was not expected. It was a huge accomplishment, and I can’t thank my coaches enough.”
“I didn’t have that great a junior year, so there weren’t a lot of options,” he said. “Going to Bridgeton gives me another whole year where I can focus on getting bigger and stronger, while exploring future options.” God help the pitchers wherever Skidmore decides to go following his year at Bridgeton Academy if he gets bigger and stronger after the year he had for Franklin.
“He just came into his own this year and really improved," Niro
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