Lynn native and former St. Mary’s baseball star Ryan Turenne joined the North Shore Navigators right before the delayed season started, and it’s a good thing he did. He and his teammates came storming out of the gate once the season got going, winning six straight games to start the year.
“I think everyone just wants to play, and that’s what’s driving us right now,” said Turenne, who is an incoming junior catcher at the University of Maine. “Everyone here wants to win, and we’re just coming to the field every day to work and do what we love. It’s been a lot of fun and the guys have been doing a great job.”
Turenne, who graduated from St. Mary’s in 2018 before playing a postgraduate year at Bridgton Academy in Maine, was four weeks into his sophomore season with the Black Bears when the COVID-19 pandemic shut the season down.
“We had our spring trip down south in late March, and we were on the bus when we got the call that everything had been canceled,” said Turenne. “It was a tough thing to hear, but I especially felt bad for all of our seniors who were in their last year playing ball. I lived with one senior and I saw it firsthand. Sure, he could take the fifth year of eligibility they’re offering, but then he’s got to pay for his own school and that’s a tough decision to make. It’s tough all around.”
Despite a bit of a slow start to the season with the Black Bears, Turenne had a strong showing for the team in his first year. Turenne batted .245 over 29 games in 2019, earning 26 starts behind the plate. His two home runs included a grand slam against UMass, and he finished the season with 13 RBI.
Going into this summer with the Navigators, Turenne is focused on improving his consistency at the plate.
“Consistency is key,” said Turenne. “Playing at the college level is tough and you need to be able to contribute more than one hit a game, for example. My focus this summer is on trying to do things like get multiple hits in a game, make solid contact and get on base.”
So far, things have been working out. Turenne is batting .250 in the six games he’s played so far, notching one double and knocking in one RBI. He’s also walked five times, putting a focus on getting on base.
“Things have been going well so far, but it’s still early,” Turenne said. “Not just me, but the whole team has to just keep pushing and working hard every day to get better. It’s a long season.”
As for his goals this summer, Turenne is keeping it simple. In addition to improving at the plate, he just wants to be able to stay out on the field.
“I think the main thing for all of us, not just me, is to just keep playing,” said Turenne. “We all just want to stay healthy and play. The idea is to just continue to be careful, follow all the rules and keep trying to win games.”
Turenne and the Navigators will be back in action Tuesday evening (6) against the New Britain Bees at Fraser Field.
