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08/29/2023 10:55 AMThe constant pressure of having the spotlight on you every time you step to the dish drew Shawn Murray to the game of baseball, though he easily excelled through those anxious moments by being a remarkable utility man for the North Haven Senior Legion baseball squad during Post 76’s midseason resurgence.
The current University of Rhode Island engineering major and North Haven alum grew up playing hoops and baseball all the way through high school. Yet this season, in his final foray for North Haven Legion, Shawn made a great final impression while manning third base and also covering extra terrain in the outfield, as Post 76 rebounded from records of 0-4 and even 2-7 to qualify for the State Tournament and capture two games within the draw.
“My dad got me into baseball; he always brought me to the field and also coached me. I love the feeling of creating bonds with your friends through baseball and also the anxiety of being up at the plate, it is addicting,” says Shawn. “I have obviously put in a lot of practice, but it has also been about consistency. I have been staying focused and locked in at practices and imagining in-game scenarios in my head. It also helps having people as passionate for the game as you. It’s great to have people in life to enjoy and play the game with.”
The hot corner has been burnt into Shawn’s baseball psyche since he was young, so he is used to the territory around the bag. And while he loves to be out in the grass shagging fly balls, Shaun craves the uniqueness of the dirt that creates so many variables defensively.
“I love the hot corner; I have always played it, so I am used to it,” Shawn says. “I played left field for legion a year ago, and I like catching the pop ups, but it can be tough when the sun is gleaming. There is nothing like being in the outfield, yet I am more of an infield guy. I could take 100 reps of ground balls, because every bounce is different, and you can get a lot of tough hops.”
A few spring seasons ago in high school, Shawn started off the campaign tearing the cover off the ball before an ensuing dry spell in the batter’s box. Still, it was a blessing in disguise, because it aided him in giving him the right mental temperament to persist through inevitable valleys.
“A couple of years ago, I started off high school ball really hot with like a .350 batting average, but then I went into like an 0-for-15 slump,” says Shawn. “I realized the key was taking it all one at-bat at a time and just focusing on the present. I realized you don’t have to be perfect in baseball, so I just learned to keep it simple. I would often doubt if I could compete at the high school level, but I proved myself at the plate, and it helped my confidence. I also improved in my fielding thanks to my high school coaches. They would love to get involved, and it was big, because defense wins championships.”
The outlook did look murky and glum for Post 76 through the first nine games of the summer of 2023. But they looked around the clubhouse and inside each other, and brightened their outlook and fortunes by taking the pressure off and enjoying the last ride for many sluggers.
“Our energy was down after the 0-4 and 2-7 starts,” Shawn says. “But we took it with a mentality of one game at a time and realizing it was the last legion season for a lot of guys. That type of thinking helped us de-stress. We then just went on a run and played and beat some of the best teams in the state. We really turned it around, which helped make the season worth it, and we left it all on the field.”
Post 76 senior skipper Mike Busillo explains that no matter the task at hand for Shawn, he met each challenge head on and with no hesitation for the betterment of his club’s chances to win.
“Shawn did everything we asked him to do, whether it was play infield or outfield, close games, or get a big hit, he did it all,” says Busillo. “He has a very high baseball IQ, which is a big strength. All that being said, all he wanted to do while he was playing for us was to win games. He wanted his teammates to succeed to help in that cause. He’s been a loyal part of the Post 76 Senior team for three years; he will be missed and was our best player most of the year.”
Now at URI, Shawn stays in touch with the sport he adores on an intramural level to help balance scholastics and the swing of the lumber. In his parting words regarding North Haven baseball, he was grateful for the opportunity and the friendships forged through his tenure.
“I am playing club baseball at URI, so I am able to still have plenty of time with the game and exposure to it without the labors of playing Division I baseball,” says Shawn. “It was great playing for the North Haven Legion program. I have been playing for the program since I was about 15 or 16, so I have been with these guys a long time. This year was a lot more special with it being my last one. It did not end the way we hoped, but we were happy with how the season ended.”