Friends’ Central’s Shane McGarry is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week (May 27 – June 2)
The sophomore third baseman batted a team-leading .362 for the Friends’ School League baseball champions, with 23 RBIs (second on the Phoenix), a .489 on-base percentage and only five strikeouts in 88 plate appearances. He also hit a key two-out, two-run single in the Friends Schools League championship final. Friends’ Central baseball head coach Jon Rubin said, “Shane is a gritty, hardworking player that plays the game fearlessly and with great intensity. He is the guy you want at the plate in big situations and he delivers. He plays the game at 110 percent, all the time. He is a future leader, a great teammate and has a unique ability to keep it light, and keep the others laughing while bringing high focus and energy when he steps between the lines.”
Q: What have you worked on most recently regarding your hitting?
A: Recently I have been working on being aggressive early in the at bat. I go to the plate with the same approach, being aggressive, hunting a fastball on the first pitch because it is normally the best pitch I get during my at bats. If I foul off the fastball or don’t get it on the first pitch I try to be more loose with my hands and hit the ball to the opposite field.
Q: You delivered a big two-out, two-run single in the Friends Schools League championship final. Tell us a little about it.
A: I went to the plate with the same approach I always have. Donny (Rieck) had a big double before me and Caleb (Bachman) also got on base, changing the momentum and putting me in a big spot with runners in scoring position. Due to a wild pitch they advanced to second and third. It was a 1-0 count and I was sitting back and trying to work to the opposite field. Having hit off the pitcher before, I knew the pitcher could not beat me with a fastball. The pitcher then threw an outside fastball which allowed me to hit a line drive down the right field line to score both runners.
Q: As a hitter, you probably have a better idea of what a pitcher will be throwing the more you see him. Can you tell us a few of the things you look for when facing a pitcher that you’ve seen several times before?
A: When facing a pitcher I have seen a couple of times I gain information from past at bats that helps me and my approach at the plate. I look at what pitches I saw in my previous at bats and where I saw them and then use that to guide my next at bat, which helps me know what pitches to hunt. Facing the same pitchers over and over again also allows me to pick up on the spin of the ball and the different releases the pitchers have for their pitches, making it easier to pick up on off speed pitches. It also allows me to get a feel for his fastball and how much I need to sit on it, helping my timing.
Q: What has been your favorite experience with the Friends’ Central baseball team this season?
A: Our home game against Perkiomen, where Brendan Aiken hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Q: Tell us a little about your start in organized baseball – what originally sparked your interest in competitive baseball?
A: Growing up with an older brother and a dad who was very involved in Llanerch Hills Little League, I was always at the field and sometimes played up with my brothers’ teams. This allowed me to be around baseball pretty much every day and play with my friends. This really sparked my interest in baseball and playing summer baseball only allowed my love for the game to grow. Playing against the best kids from different towns made the game more competitive, which I loved.
Q: Have you always been a third baseman? What attracted you to the hot corner? What aspect of your fielding are you working on most currently?
A: Growing up I always played shortstop and then 13U and on, I played both infield and outfield wherever I was needed. Coming into Friends Central I was the designated hitter my freshman year and played in the outfield, due to a very good senior class and very solid infield. This year I was given the opportunity to start at third base after a long offseason of working on fielding that position. Currently I am working on slowing things down a little bit and not rushing my throws. I am also working on my charging backhand and my bare hand to allow me to have more range on bunts and slower balls down the line.
Q: Who have been your most influential baseball mentors and what has been the most valuable thing each of them have taught you?
A: Growing up my father and grandfather were the most influential people in my baseball career because they were always teaching me new things about hitting and hitting me ground balls to work on my fielding. Since I came to Friends Central, Pablo (Spielman-Rodriguez) and Brendan (Aiken) have taken me under their wings with any questions about fielding, hitting or base running. If I ever had a question they were there to guide me. I also had the opportunity to play with my older brother Mike the last two seasons which was awesome. They would always give me suggestions and new things to try with hitting and fielding to broaden my game and find out the best fits for me. If I was ever down on myself, they would be there for me and pick me up. They have taught me so much I can’t really say one thing specifically, but I am grateful I have had them as mentors.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-game preparation the day of a contest.
A: My pre game routine is the same every game. Whether it is a home or away game I start the day making sure I eat a good breakfast and listen to music on the way to school. Right when I get out of school I listen to music to get in my zone and focus on my breathing and keeping a positive mindset. When I get to the fields we stretch as a team and then I do my personal stretches in the same order every game. Right before infield/outfield, I walk a little away from the team and crouch down alone and think about how lucky I am to get to play that day and get myself hyped to play. .
Q: What is your favorite baseball field, and why?
A: My favorite field is Citizens Bank Park, because I have been watching my favorite players and team playing on it since I was a little kid and it’s always been a dream of mine to play on it.
Q: Who is your favorite baseball player and why?
A: My favorite baseball player growing up was Shane Victorino because we had the same name and he was on the Phillies. Now my favorite player is Bryson Stott because we have very similar games and even though we play different positions defensively I admire his defense.
Q: What has been your favorite experience of your baseball career outside of Friends’ Central?
A: My Top Lumber 13U baseball team went to Diamond Nation, and stayed in a hotel with a basketball court in the middle of it. Playing in such a competitive tournament with my best friends I grew up with, and winning, was such a great experience. The team bonding, and hanging out with my best friends after the tournament, was almost just as fun as being on the field and winning. All of our families would meet in the hotel and we would grill and all hang out by the basketball courts. This was a great experience and every second of it was fun.
Q: What is your favorite academic subject at Friends’ Central?
A: My favorite subject at Friends’ Central is Health and Spanish. Health is my favorite because I love learning about the body and CPR. Spanish is also my favorite class because I love learning a new language and learning to communicate through it is so cool.
Q: What do you think you’d like to major in at college? Is there a particular career field that interests you at the present time?
A: I think I would like to major in Business or something in the health field. This is because I love communicating with others and helping other people get better.
Fun facts – Shane McGarry
Favorite book: Lord of the Flies.
Favorite TV show: Outer Banks.
Favorite movie: Sandlot.
Favorite athlete: Bryson Stott.
Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Party in the USA.
Favorite team: Phillies.
Favorite place to visit: New Jersey beaches.
Favorite pre-game meal: two peanut butter and jellies
Family: Father Jon McGarry, mother Shanna Reisch, stepfather Tommy Reisch, older brother Michael, younger brother Jack.
(To be selected as Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by his coach.)
To view a gallery of the previous Main Line Boys Athletes of the Week click here
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