Kearns Looking Forward To The Challenges Ahead At Maine

Henry Kearns OF / RHP / Pilgrim, RI / 2025

WARWICK, R.I. - There has been, admittedly, some self-doubt whether Henry Kearns could play at the next level.

“There were a lot of ups and downs in high school,” the Pilgrim High School senior explained. “I was thinking about it as a possibility, but I didn’t think I was capable of doing it until some coaches told me they liked what they saw.”

Interest came from schools in the northeast like Bryant, URI and Northeastern, but it was Maine that gave Kearns the opportunity he was in search of when it came to college baseball.

“I started getting a little interest from them at the start of 2023 summer when they came to a couple of games,” Kearns reflected. “They liked me but weren’t ready to offer. It took another high school season and summer to offer.

“They heard how I was doing from a couple of sources. Miles Fontaine, my teammate (and a Maine commit), gave them a good word on me and then the coach wanted to have me come on a one-on-one visit at the start of July and I took it. He gave me a personal tour.”

The senior outfielder eventually committed to the America East Conference university.

“I loved the amount of interest they had in me,” Kearns related. “Nothing is guaranteed, but there’s an opportunity to play. My mom also went there so I like that. It’s in the middle of nowhere and I like the personal growth.”

While the end turned out great, it was, admittedly, a difficult recruiting process.

“I went to a Prep Baseball event with my travel team and got my stats out there so a bunch of college coaches were able to look at that,” Kearns explained. “But it was very, very stressful. I didn’t know what to do. My travel coaches and parents helped me out a lot looking at schools.

“Then this year during high school season I had a bad start. I wasn’t playing to my potential. It was a very low point. I just had to keep grinding and I broke out of it and performed.”

Maine sees a lot of promise in the 17-year-old.

“They like how I swing the bat and my confidence at the plate,” Kearns said. “But they want to see me get bigger.”

That is something the 6-3 190-pound outfielder has been working on.

“In the last year-and-a-half I’ve gotten much bigger,” Kearns related. “I was very skinny, 6-2 and in the 175 area. I wasn’t as strong or mobile so I hit the gym hard. I wanted to get Maine to look at me. This summer they took the time to look at me and liked what they saw.”

Kearns, who credited Cody Ortega with his summer organization, the New England Scorpions, for playing a major role in his recruitment and Dave Egan for helping with his hitting and getting stronger and faster, is excited about what he can provide the Maine program.

“I feel I’ll bring, hopefully, a good teammate,” Kearns said. “I’m someone that really wants to play. College is there, but my focus outside of school is going to be on Maine and helping win a championship.”

Kearns understands what he needs to do to benefit the cause.

“I know I have to get bigger, that’s what the head coach said,” Kearns related. “He wants me ‘to be a moose’ and hit the ball over the fence.”

A 3.8 student at Pilgrim planning on a major in business management, Kearns admits a commitment was a “very relieving” feeling.

“After I committed I still had part of the summer left to play and I noticed the stress wasn’t there having to perform at the right time,” Kearns noted. “I just started balling. I was feeling comfortable that I do deserve this. I felt very good with no stress after that moment.”

There is a lot that Kearns looks forward to when it comes to being part of the baseball program at the university located five hours from home.

“The team work and getting to know my teammates the next four years is going to be fun,” Kearns concluded. “I want to see how I perform and how my game changes from start to end. I’m excited to see where I am in life when I’m done.”