Cam O’Neill is making noise on the diamond in his freshman season at the College of the Holy Cross. The Lynn native was recently named Patriot League Rookie of the Week after a solid performance in a three-game series against the University of Richmond in which he hit .545, according to the team’s website.
After playing for two seasons at St. Mary’s, O’Neill transferred to Buckingham Browne & Nichols in Cambridge. That’s where he caught Holy Cross’s eye, and Holy Cross caught his.
?I had this place in back of my mind,” O’Neill said. “Later on in high school it became more appealing as a place that fit for me academically and athletically.”
Although he’s excited to earn an award for his personal achievement, O’Neill is focused on getting wins.
?It was one of my goals to be named Patriot League Rookie of the Week and it’s great for it to happen so soon into the season,” O’Neill said. “But we’re looking for wins. It’s great for me personally but I like to win.”
Aside from earning the rookie honor, O’Neill also won the starting position at second base over the offseason — but it didn’t come easy for him.
?Coming as a freshman no spots are guaranteed,” O’Neill said. “Battling for the second base spot with a couple of my buddies was challenging. Getting to know them and compete with them at the same time was the most challenging part of the season so far.”
O’Neill’s numbers show that he hasn’t struggled in making the transition from high school baseball to the college game. However, he still sees the differences that make playing in college tougher.
?As you move up you recognize it’s the higher level of baseball,” O’Neill said. “The speed of the game is faster, the arms throw harder. It’s about getting a little quicker and becoming a little more refined with everything.”
As for his thoughts on the season, O’Neill said the team is doing well thus far and getting better as the season goes on.
?We’ve made progress each game and we’re heading in the right direction,” O’Neill said. “We’ve got some road games coming up and hopefully we come back home with some wins.”
He also added that he isn’t done making noise on the individual side of things, with a humble perspective on his goals for the season.
?I want to be able to win Rookie of the Week a few more times,” O’Neill said. “If it works out, even potentially win Rookie of the Year. But I just want it to work out and keep my starting spot at second base.”
O’Neill wears the jersey number 13 for Holy Cross, but noted that it wasn’t influenced by Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. He does, however, look to one of A-Rod’s former teammates as his favorite player.
?Robinson Cano,” O’Neill said. “I just like the way he plays with a little swagger. He’s very composed and that’s someone I like to watch play.”
As for his academics, O’Neill, who’s undeclared on a major, said the task of balancing schoolwork and baseball as a student-athlete has been challenging.
?It’s been a grind for sure, going from class to practice,” O’Neill said. “There’ve been lots of late nights and early mornings. It’s been worth it when we get to play games in warm states. It’s been tough but there’s nothing I’d rather be doing.”
Names and notes
Lynn’s Tori Faieta, a graduate of St. Mary’s and a senior at Stonehill College, posted her 14thdouble-double of the season — and 30thof her career — in the Skyhawks’ overtime loss to American International College in quarterfinal-round action of the Northeast-10 Conference women’s basketball tournament. Faieta had 18 points and 11 rebounds to go with two blocked shots. She was 6-for-16 from the field, but converted all six free-throws…Stonehill led just once in that game, when Beverly’s and Bishop Fenwick’s Amy Pelletier hit her only basket of the game from three-point distance for a one-point advantage…Salem’s Ben Sattiewhite a freshman at Fitchburg State University was named the MASCAC men’s field athlete and rookie of the week. He placed 12th overal