Titans’ Pitcher Michael Kennedy commits to Dean College Bulldogs in Franklin, Massachusetts

*UPDATE: Michael opted to attend Dalhousie University in Halifax, subsequent to this announcement.

Titans 18U Pitcher Michael Kennedy committed to the Dean College Bulldogs last week.  Kennedy is the twelfth Titan from the Class of 2024 to sign their letter of intent with a US College. According to the Titans’ College Placement Coordinator Denis Bailey, the veteran Titans hurler is ready for NCAA competition:  “Michael Kennedy is a kid that will throw strikes and allow his defense to work behind him. He competes every time he takes the mound and with his unorthodox delivery he hides the baseball extremely well. Mike is also a fantastic teammate and extremely coachable which will allow him to continue his development at Dean.”

Coach Bailey provided the Lindsay, Ontario resident with nine offers to wade through before choosing Dean College.  Kennedy is looking forward to living in New England for four years where he’ll be pitching for the NCAA Division 3 Bulldogs and pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice, twenty-five minutes outside of Boston, the “Cradle of the American Revolution.”  It is this historical and cultural setting that was part of the draw of committing to Dean College:  “I am looking forward to living in Franklin, Massachusetts because of the historic small town feel. It is not much bigger than my hometown, Lindsay, Ontario, and that is really appealing when making the decision to move hundreds of miles away. I am also looking forward to living just thirty minutes away from Boston, MA, because of the many opportunities it provides. I will be able to travel there on weekends to watch a Red Sox game or visit the East Coast.”

In addition to taking in a game or two at historic Fenway Park or meander up the New England coastline, Kennedy outlined a variety of reasons why the 150-year-old university and its sports program attracted his attention: “I made the decision to commit to the Dean College Bulldogs because I was drawn to the combination of an inviting small New England town near the big city of Boston, and the beautiful campus with historical architecture. I was intrigued by Dean’s successful Criminal Justice program and the diverse opportunities that the program allows you to explore. On the athletics side, Dean offers great training and rehab facilities and staff. They have a young coaching staff with a head coach that is eager to win. I appreciate that Coach Morales has experienced college baseball at the highest level, playing Division I at West Virginia University as a pitcher alongside Alek Manoah.”

Kennedy, an Honor Roll graduate of I. E. Weldon Secondary School in Lindsay, Ontario, has a clear academic goal while studying in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is well aware of the educational opportunities in a significant city like Boston:  “My major area of study at Dean College will be Criminal Justice. I am very interested in their program because of the real life situational learning and the community involvement within the program. Criminal Justice majors at Dean have many opportunities to learn from local forensic units, police, and even from one of the Federal Bureau of Investigation offices in Boston.”

The cagy and articulate veteran of the 18U pitching staff stressed the importance of creating balance between his athletic and academic activities over  the next four years:  “My athletic and academic goal as a student-athlete at Dean College is to maintain as much balance as possible between the two. My goal is to help my team win and become an impact pitcher in the rotation, but also to make an impact in the classroom, staying on top of my schoolwork, and focusing on my degree. Playing college baseball has always been a dream of mine, and the only way I can do that is to excel in the classroom, constantly improve my GPA, and remember that I am also there to complete and pursue my Criminal Justice degree.”

Kennedy was grateful to the Titans Baseball Club for its assistance regarding his college baseball placement:  “I came to the Titans Baseball Club in 2021 and since then the coaching staff has been by my side to help not only with baseball, but also with academics. This past year Coach Bailey has given me helpful pointers throughout the recruiting process, including the do’s and don’ts of talking to college coaches. The guidance on how to properly write an email to a coach and what questions to ask on a phone call, definitely played a role in the nine offers I received from various universities and colleges in the US. I would like to thank the entire Titans coaching staff, including Coaches LV, Bailey, Grammo, Eddie, Kirby, and Barker.”

In addition to thanking his coaches individually, Kennedy also shared his personal highlights as a veteran Titan player:  “I have made so many great memories with the Titans over the years, and the energetic environment at TNF and on the field has helped grow my love for the game. The trips to the US are not only a blast, but allow the team to grow, fostering friendships. I think one of my favorite memories would be the 17U versus 18U Titans game in Lexington, Kentucky. I pitched for the 17U team where we beat the 18U’s in walk-off fashion to move on in the tournament. I also really enjoyed the Titans World Series and the Movember charity game; it is for a great cause and striking out coaches is always a good time!”

In his fourth season as a Titan, Kennedy offered some advice to the organization’s youngest players to get them on track regarding their post-secondary placements:  “My biggest advice to the younger Titans players would be to continually try to improve, whether it be your GPA, your swing, or your pitching mechanics. Utilize your coaches-- they are there to help you improve and keep you doing what you love to do.”

The Titans Baseball Club offers its congratulations to an exemplary student-athlete, Michael Kennedy.  The organization is looking forward to seeing him pitch for the Titans this Spring and for the Bulldogs in the Fall.