Kevin McKeon

Baseball has been my passion from when I was 2 years old. All day every day, I think about playing baseball and what I have to do to play at the next level. Although school is the number 1 priority, every day I practice baseball whether it is weight lifting, long-tossing, team practices, or even if it is studying the game.

In my community, I volunteer at a local sports camp. Some kids attending there also play baseball competitively, so I offered to help them out in the off season or even just at the field. Also, when I see a kid struggling, on or off the field, I will go over to them and help them out. For example, in the weight room with the school team, I saw a kid struggling with the weights and not doing them properly. So I went over and spotted him until he finished the workout. I always want what is best for the team or program rather than what is best for myself.

I always warm up using this method called "arm care". It consists of special arm movements to get the burn in your arms going, running, other bodily exercises using bands and weighted balls. It came from Tom House, who is a sports scientist at Southern California University. The pitching coaches I train with taught and preached his exercises. Also, I eat very healthy, especially during baseball season. Before games, I make sure I have enough protein and carbs to play at the best level I can.

I volunteer at a local sports camp during the summer. I help a high school teacher, Mr. Hunt, run the camp. Also, during the winter, I shovel my elderly neighbors driveway. Finally, I am in the Italian club and the Mahopac High School Booster Club in school. For the Italian club, we do carwashes, march in the Columbus Day parade and sell items such as a keychains and Italian propaganda shirts. For the Booster Club, we organize carwashes, sell wreaths for Christmas time, and help set up toys and candy for the Veterans near Halloween and Christmas time.