UMass Amherst Was The College Dream For Hennessey

Tommy Hennessey SS / 2B / Shepherd Hill Regional High, MA / 2025

CHARLTON, Ma. - Tommy Hennessey was considering going to a Prep School and reclassifying. That is, until a strong finish to summer ball led to an offer and commitment to UMass Amherst.

“The last tournament of summer I went to a Prep Baseball event in Ohio,” Hennessey reflected. “UMass kept in touch with my coaches about how I was doing. My coaches were really a very big help with my recruitment. I could not have done anything without the Ruffnecks.”

Another player’s injury a year prior actually proved beneficial for the Shepherd Hill Regional High School senior.

“The shortstop on the 17U team got hurt and I was called up from 16U and played awesome,” Hennessey explained. “That team has some very, very skilled players which got coaches around to watch. I ended up going to a camp and UMass said they will keep in touch, see how the spring goes and will circle back.

“The summer after high school I went to a showcase with the Ruffnecks,” Hennessey continued. “I wasn’t playing well in early summer but after that I started playing well and hitting for power.”

By the end of summer Hennessey had strong interest from his school of choice.

“My brother is a senior at UMass and I’ve wanted to go to UMass for two years now,” Hennessey said.

His own injury did not slow down the process.

“I broke my fingers sliding into a base,” Hennessey related about the event in Ohio. “They were planning on seeing me more (in the fall) but once I got hurt they called and said we want to get you on campus. They offered on the visit and I accepted the next morning.”

It brought an end to the idea of possibly reclassifying.

“I was just trying to weigh all my options and keep every door open,” explained Hennessey, who not only took a college visit to Merrimack but toured Winchendon Prep School with the idea of a reclass. “I was thinking another year of recruiting and getting seen would help me, but it ultimately worked out with UMass.”

It was obviously far from a smooth recruitment.

“I think every kid in New England gets stressed trying to get seen,” Hennessey said. “Once I started playing 17U I had to get my confidence up. I just tried to do everything I could to help.”

UMass came away impressed.

“They really like me from a defensive and athletic standpoint,” Hennessey pointed out. “At the beginning of summer I wasn’t doing well offensively so that was holding me back, but the second half of summer my bat came alive. I played well in all the games and my coaches were saying great things on my behalf.”

Steve August, Kevin Casey, Brendan Casey and John Casey, all with the Ruffnecks, are credited with playing important roles in becoming a Division I commit, with high school head coach Mike Daley another key in his development and recruitment.

“This has been my dream since I started playing with the Ruffnecks in seventh grade,” the 18-year-old related. “Once I joined the Ruffnecks I wanted to play at the highest level. After sophomore spring I really started thinking about playing Division I baseball.”

Recruited as an infielder by UMass, Hennessey is confident he can be a huge asset in a program that has moved to the Mid-American Conference this school year. 

“I’ll bring them a team player, a great kid and student who wants to win,” Hennessey said. “I’m someone who’s going to play well in every game and give 100 percent effort all the time.”

A 3.4 student in high school, Hennessey is considering a major in a field of business or possibly psychology at the university located a little more than an hour west of his home in Charlton.

“This is awesome, a dream come true,” Hennessey concluded. “I’m looking forward to winning games and having a good time. I’m going to work my butt off for (head) coach (Matt) Reynolds.

“I’m just excited about the overall college experience. I can’t wait to step on campus and give everything I have.”