Classical’s Byrne learns from the best at Cape Camp

The Lynn Classical softball team already knew heading into next spring that it was going to have a shot at having a very successful season. Little did coach Chris Warren know that his star shortstop, Hannah Byrne, was going to get the experience of a lifetime recently.Byrne, who has been a two sport star for the Rams since her freshman year, recently traveled to Martha’s Vineyard to participate in a softball clinic run by South Florida and U.S National team assistant coach Ken Erikson.”I was extremely honored to be invited,” Byrne said. “Coach Erikson was awesome. He gave all of us a lot of good tips and I learned a lot from him.”Byrne already has been a star on the diamond for the Rams, being twice named a Northeastern Conference all-star in her three years, and Warren knows this will be nothing but a good thing for his shortstop and program.”It was great for her to go down there,” Warren said. “She’s showed herself on the field and is a reflection on what we do in our program. It’s nice to have kids like her recognized and it is only going to help the other kids we have.”Byrne’s trip to the Vineyard came by chance as she was participating in an AAU tourney in Lowell with her summer team, the New England Storm, when one of the umpires took notice of her play.”The umpire talked with my summer coach (John Gambale) and he got in contact with me,” Byrne said. “And it just went from there. I was honored they invited me.”Byrne said that Erikson worked with the participants on all parts of the game and Warren knows that those lessons can also help the rest of the Rams.”I know its going to make Hannah a better player and she can bring these things to me and our program to help better our team,” Warren said. “She has the whole package and did well, I’m guessing, among some pretty good talent.”Byrne is already being looked at by several colleges, including Bentley University in Waltham. The Hawks are no stranger to the Classical program as they were one of the teams that heavily recruited one of Byrne’s predecessors at the shortstop spot, Afton Dean, during her junior and senior seasons.”Afton was recruited by them when she was with us and it brought Bentley’s eyes on our program,” Warren said. “Hannah, her mom and I went on a visit there and it is just a beautiful facility.”