(July 2, 2003) ?C Fordham University head baseball coach Dan Gallagher announced the signing of Brian Keeney (Chagrin Falls, OH/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin), Peter McGuiness (Alameda, CA/St. Mary??s College High School), John Mollicone (Cranston, RI/Bishop Hendricken) and Ryan Welch (Kingston, NY/Kingston) to National Letters of Intent. They join newcomers Drew Adler, Jordan Lert and Javier Martinez who signed Letters of Intent earlier in the year.
Keeney, a 6??4??, 190-pound pitcher/outfielder, was a Plain Dealer and News Herald All-County selection this past spring. He led the team to the 2001 state championship and the 2000 and 2001 North Coast League titles. He also lettered in golf and basketball at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin and received Second Honors academically in 2003. The 2002 team Most Valuable Player, Keeney played high school baseball at the same high school as former Ram Bobby Kingsbury, who is currently playing professionally in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.
McGuiness, a 6?? 2??, 190-pound, outfielder/pitcher, was a First Team All-League pick this past year as well as being a nominee for MVP All-League First Team. He was also selected as the team??s Most Valuable Player and served as a team captain. McGuiness was named Honorable Mention All-League in 2002 and played for the Oakland Oaks traveling team. Academically, McGuiness graduated Summa Cum Laude and is a California Scholarship Federation Lifetime member.
Mollicone, a 6?? 1??, 195-pound catcher, capped a successful high school career by being named First Team All-State and leading Bishop Hendricken to the 2002 Rhode Island Class A State Championship. He was also named All-Division and All-City as well as Most Valuable Player of the 2003 State Championship series. Mollicone, who served as a team captain, is a member of the National Honor Society, the Rhode Island Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society.
Welch, a 6?? 3??, 225-pound pitcher, was a four-year letterman with the football and baseball teams at Kingston High School. He received the Coaches Award for baseball in 2002 and 2003 as well as being named the 2003 recipient of the Albert J. Gruner Memorial Scholarship in 2003. Welch was named First Team All-League in football as a senior as well as Honorable Mention All-County. He served as a football team captain this past year and was named team Most Valuable Player. Academically, Welch was named to the honor roll all four years.
