WEYMOUTH, Mass – In 2011, Adam Keenan, a native of Lowell, Mass, was a sophomore at the University of Massachusetts – Lowell. He was a first baseman and pitcher on the River Hawk baseball team after transferring from Division II Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire after his freshman season. In the spring of 2011, Keenan had six hits for the River Hawks in a bench role for the team. As the spring came to an end, Adam looked forward to the summer as he was set to join the Seacoast Mavericks of the newly formed Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England.
Adam joined the Mavericks, who were based in Portsmouth, N.H., and went out for practice on the first day. At that practice, Adam Keenan collapsed on the field suffering sudden cardiac arrest. After Adam’s passing, it was found that he had an undiagnosed form of heart disease called Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC). It was exactly eight years ago today, June 6th, 2011, that Adam died unexpectedly.
Adam was an avid sportsman who enjoyed playing baseball, football and lacrosse, with baseball being his ultimate passion. Growing up, Adam played with the Shedd Park League and the Lowell Pony League in Lowell, Mass. He went on to play baseball at Lowell High, Lowell American Legion, Post #87 as well as the Chelmsford Merchants. IUn college he played for Franklin Pierce University before transferring to Division I UMass-Lowell and of course spending a short time with the Seacoast Mavericks, formerly of the Futures League.
Today to honor Adam Keenan’s memory, there will be moments of silence at each of our games on June 6th in Worcester, Brockton and Lynn. The Futures League, since 2011, have honored Adam’s memory by naming their annual Sportsmanship Award and scholarship in his name.
In 2015, Adam’s family created the Adam Keenan Foundation with the mission of ensuring every athletic facility and public place in the Merrimack Valley area has at least one AED on location. Please visit the Adam Keenan Foundation facebook page by searching Adam Keenan Foundation Inc.
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