Spring Break
MALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Sean O'Hare '12
by Eli Harrington
Staff writer
Sports | 5/19/09
Posted online at 1:55 AM EST on 5/15/09
/ Last updated at 11:02 PM EST on 5/15/09
"The chance to play two sports was important, but Brandeis also has such an outstanding academic reputation," O'Hare said.
O'Hare has not yet picked a major but said that he intends to study Computer Science, which did not surprise his teammates.
"Besides being obviously a very good athlete, he's definitely focused and has his head screwed on straight," baseball team captain and outfielder Mike Alfego '09 said.
Both sports benefit from O'Hare's athletic skill set, as his hand-eye coordination and combination of quickness and agility allow him to alternate acrobatic saves between the pipes with diving catches out on the diamond.
Coven explained how these skills crossed over in both sports.
"Particularly as a shortstop, [playing goalie requires] the same kind of lateral mobility and hands that work together, and [O'Hare] has hands like glue," Coven said.
Although playing two sports is not a new challenge for him, O'Hare said he feels he has to give up one of them to achieve his full potential. O'Hare will play only baseball next year; playing both sports forced him to be at an uncomfortable playing weight, he said. Still, O'Hare stressed that the 20 hours of practice per week that both teams require during their respective seasons was never a problem.
"I've never played baseball in the fall before-it's always been that I played soccer in the fall and winter and baseball during the spring and summer-so that was actually pretty normal for me," he said.
Despite his success, O'Hare remains humble, saying the opportunity to spend time with teammates on both teams was the most worthwhile experience of his rookie year.
"Being able to spend time with two great groups of guys [has been the most rewarding]. It was great to be welcomed in and put on the same level with everyone else, especially to have the older guys on both teams as leaders and to see how those guys go about their business," O'Hare said. "I can't imagine college life without being on a team, and I've been lucky enough to play for two special ones."
O'Hare has not yet picked a major but said that he intends to study Computer Science, which did not surprise his teammates.
"Besides being obviously a very good athlete, he's definitely focused and has his head screwed on straight," baseball team captain and outfielder Mike Alfego '09 said.
Both sports benefit from O'Hare's athletic skill set, as his hand-eye coordination and combination of quickness and agility allow him to alternate acrobatic saves between the pipes with diving catches out on the diamond.
Coven explained how these skills crossed over in both sports.
"Particularly as a shortstop, [playing goalie requires] the same kind of lateral mobility and hands that work together, and [O'Hare] has hands like glue," Coven said.
Although playing two sports is not a new challenge for him, O'Hare said he feels he has to give up one of them to achieve his full potential. O'Hare will play only baseball next year; playing both sports forced him to be at an uncomfortable playing weight, he said. Still, O'Hare stressed that the 20 hours of practice per week that both teams require during their respective seasons was never a problem.
"I've never played baseball in the fall before-it's always been that I played soccer in the fall and winter and baseball during the spring and summer-so that was actually pretty normal for me," he said.
Despite his success, O'Hare remains humble, saying the opportunity to spend time with teammates on both teams was the most worthwhile experience of his rookie year.
"Being able to spend time with two great groups of guys [has been the most rewarding]. It was great to be welcomed in and put on the same level with everyone else, especially to have the older guys on both teams as leaders and to see how those guys go about their business," O'Hare said. "I can't imagine college life without being on a team, and I've been lucky enough to play for two special ones."
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