In the fifth inning of the Central New England Chamionship, Ryan McCarthy ’08 hit in the tying run with a single that drove in J.R. Santaniello ’08 to tie the score at 4-4 with Worcester Academy. McCarthy’s hit allowed Andover to go into extra innings to eventually win the game 5-4. This is the type of play that McCarthy ’08 has become known for. His consistent power hitting and athleticism in the field have earned him the honor of The Phillipian’s Male Athlete of the Term. Throughout the season and deep into the playoffs, McCarthy’s play has been superb. At the end of the season, McCarthy was honored as the league MVP. In terms of stats, McCarthy leads the team with 23 RBI’s, 28 hits, seven doubles, a .491 batting average and a .789 slugging percentage. Despite the impressive statistics on paper, what the stats don’t show is how valuable McCarthy was in clutch situations. “As the season progressed, Ryan came to be known as Iceman for his ability to hit in clutch situations. Whenever he was at the plate in a tight situation, he always came through with a big hit,” said Jack Walsh ’08. In addition to his clutch hitting, players came to rely on McCarthy for his excellent fielding. Reliever Glenn Stowell ’09 recalled, “I relied on Mac a lot. He saved me a bunch by using his athleticism to make a big catch. If he couldn’t get to the ball in time, he had an extremely strong throw to make the infield play.” McCarthy also brings to the field a competitive nature that is extremely hard to match, said his teammates. Because of his competitiveness, McCarthy gained a lot of respect from everyone on the team. “A lot of teammates looked up to Ryan because of him being a PG and a great player. His competitive nature always allowed him to perform in the clutch, and he gained a lot of respect for that too,” said Brian Farris ’08. Off the diamond, McCarthy can be seen always trying to improve his game. In the weight room, his impressive squatting and benching workouts draw crowds. “As a dorm mate, I always walk into Ryan’s room and see him taking cuts with a bat in front of his mirror at all hours of the day,” Walsh said. Impressively, McCarthy is also a multi-sport athlete. As a key wide receiver for the football team, he was a star player on a squad that went 7-2, with the only two losses, to Deerfield and Trinity-Pawling in the New England Championship. “It was great to be able to watch McCarthy make big plays just by getting the ball to him in the fall on the football field. Now, I get to watch him make big plays on the diamond. He is just a superb athlete,” said Farris, also the starting quarterback of this year’s football team. McCarthy’s personality also earned him respect off the field. “Ryan is a great kid on and off the field,” says Co-Captain Mike Ciummei ’08. “As a roommate, I couldn’t ask for a better friend. He is so focused on working hard and being the best at what he does. It’s amazing,” said Farris ’08. McCarthy has shown great skill on the field, poise off the field, and a competitive spirit in more than one sport. This spring was his time to shine, and he now walks away from his Andover post graduate year with great seasons in both football and baseball, a New England Championship in baseball, and Phillipian Athlete of the Term.
