McNeill Gears Up for Final Season

by Jill Bradford

When Ryan McNeill, a senior captain for the Merrimack baseball team from Lynnfield, Massachusetts, was asked what the number one thing is that he has learned from Merrimack athletics, he answered confidently, "Hard work pays off."

As a recruited walk-on for the team, McNeill was forced to prove himself as a pitcher from day one. This year he continues to grow as a player and leader for the squad, while simultaneously looking forward to his many career opportunities.

Head Coach Joe Sarno and his team are set to accomplish one major goal this year: make the NE-10 Tournament.

"Merrimack has not been in the playoffs since 2000. McNeill and the rest of the senior class are on board to win and are definitely the best group of seniors that we have had," Sarno said. This year's seniors include Co-captains Ryan McNeill and Brendan Pyburn, as well as Dylan Ellis, Ryan O'Rourke, Matt Hogan, Eddie Medeiros, and Chris Orechia.

Sarno has seen the success McNeill has had so far and is confident it will carry through into this season.

"Ryan made the team his freshman year but was extremely underdeveloped and needed to get in better shape. We had a conversation where I explained to him exactly what he needed to do if he ever wanted to pitch here. Ryan went on a mission and lost weight and eventually replaced that loss with muscle. He then worked his butt off to become a better pitcher," Sarno explains. "The long and short is that he is a remarkable individual. Last year he earned NE-10 all conference honors as a starter with 22 appearances. This year he has led the team tremendously and has created a strong culture for work ethic."

As a closer for the team, there is no doubt in anyone's mind that McNeill works well under pressure and such competency to do well under stress is paralleled in the classroom. As an Accounting major and Economics minor, the workload has been intense throughout all four years. Regardless, McNeill said, "I actually do better in school when I have baseball games every day. There is no time to slack off and a busy schedule does not allow me to procrastinate."

McNeill's work ethic has not gone unnoticed in the classroom. Business Professor James Grinnell commented on McNeill's academic commitments saying, "Ryan is always prepared for our discussions and indeed is one of the more active contributors. He brings great insights into our conversations and he is always able to go above and beyond the call of duty when making contributions in the course. The course is structured as a team-based learning experience, and it is clear to me that Ryan brings the teamwork ethic he practices on the field into his in-class team," Grinnell explained. "There's no doubt that he exemplifies how Merrimack's athletic program can actually enhance what happens in the classroom."

Upon graduation, McNeill plans to work in the mutual fund industry. He hopes to get his MBA within a couple of years and be a solid asset to the corporate world.

McNeill understands that the life skills Merrimack athletics has instilled in him will be very useful in his future. Academically, athletically, and socially, McNeill will miss Merrimack a lot next year.

"I am going to miss playing baseball competitively. After college I plan to play in summer leagues, but I know that it will never be the same. But mostly, I will miss spending the majority of the day with my teammates at lifts, lunch, practice, dinner, and just hanging out. A lot of them have become my best friends," McNeill said. "We are baseball guys."


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