When Andover's Matt Hogan takes the field for the Merrimack College baseball team next season, few should be surprised if he plays each and every inning with a smile on his face.
"I think a lot about my father on and off the field," said Hogan. "He always encouraged me to do what I enjoy doing and to take the game as far as I could as long I am having fun. Whether I am working out or playing, that is always in the back of my mind."
After facing personal tragedy and disappointment both on and off the field, the 21-year-old now finally has the opportunity to play baseball with a smile again.
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It didn't take Hogan long to make a name for himself on the local baseball scene. As a sophomore, he earned the starting first baseman job for Andover High. After a tough first season with the bat, he took a leap as a junior when he hit .354 with 19 RBIs and 13 runs.
His breakout season came as a senior in 2005 when he hit an even .400 with 23 RBIs, both good for second on the team, and scored 13 runs. His reputation continued to grow as an outstanding defender at first, and received Eagle-Tribune All-Star and All-Conference honors.
He also drew interest from Division 1 University of Massachusetts Amherst, and signed on to play for the Minutemen in 2006. The success continued for Hogan in the American Legion season, when he hit over .400 and helped Andover to the state championship.
But, during that summer, Hogan's life took a turn when his father passes away from cancer.
"He had cancer previously and he had a reoccurrence," he remembered. "It came back pretty strong and he fought it for about a year. It was a very tough time."
Despite the tragedy, Hogan made the decision to continue with his plan to attend UMass. But further trouble struck when he was cut from the UMass baseball team during fall tryouts, and did not feel comfortable on campus.
"I gave it a shot and it didn't work out at UMass," he said. "School-wise, I wasn't happy there, and then I wasn't playing baseball. After a year there, I was definitely ready to be back where I could get on the right track."
Unsure of where to go next, he came into contact with former Andover High teammate Jarrett Mackin, who had also gone to UMass before transferring to Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill.
"I was looking for opportunities and he recommended (Northern Essex) to me," he said. "I saw they had a lot of success (in baseball) and it wasn't a very hard decision for me."
He began attending NECC in the fall of 2006, and soon after began to prepare for his first baseball season for the Knights. But getting back into baseball form proved a challenging task.
"It had been just about 11 months since I had picked up a baseball," he said. "I really hadn't played since (American) Legion ball in 2005. I had to work a lot harder than I expected just to get back into the swing of things and face pitching again."
To rediscover his old form, Hogan began training with Mackin at DB's indoor baseball facility in North Andover, spending hours a day in the batting cages.
That work paid off once he took the field for NECC for the 2007 season.
In 28 games, the freshman hit .381 with 12 doubles and 28 RBIs, good for second on the team that won the Massachusetts Community College Athletic Conference title. He also earned Region 21 All-New England second team honors.
"It was such a relief to be comfortable at the plate," he said. "It was exciting to just get back in that comfort level, because it didn't happen right away. I was thrilled to learn I could play baseball in college."
Once the season ended, Hogan went back to work, and followed up that performance with an even better year in 2008.
This season, the sophomore delivered a team-high .438 average, good for 24th in National Junior College Athletic Association Division 3. He also led the Knights in RBIs with 23 and home runs with three and was named to the Region 21 All-New England first team.
He also stood out in the classroom at the well-respected community college, making the decision to study psychology.
During that sophomore season he received offers to play baseball at Ithaca College (N.Y.), the University of Rhode Island and Suffolk University. But Merrimack emerged as the favorite.
"I was looking at a number of schools and trying to figure out where I fit into the baseball program," he said. "My major contact at Merrimack College was (interim athletic director Joe) Iarrobino, who had been a mentor of mine since I played for him in Legion baseball. Once I started narrowing down schools, Merrimack was still there and decided it was right for me.
"I am really excited to be playing in the Northeast-10. It is good Division 2 ball and I get to play good competition. It is also one of the few wooden bat leagues in the area."
The Warriors, who gave Hogan a $25,000 scholarship, are also enthusiastic to have Hogan in the mix.
"Matt is probably the best fielding first baseman we have ever had (with Andover Legion)," said Iarrobino. "He always hit for power and is a great teammate, a greater leader and a quality person. Merrimack is lucky to have him."
Through the ups and downs of the last three years, Hogan, who is currently playing for the Andover Shockers semipro team, says he never lost his confidence.
"I never worried I wouldn't get back," he said. "But I knew it would be a long road to get back to where I was. It wasn't going to come back easy."
The Matt Hogan File
Age: 21
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190
Hometown: Andover
College: Merrimack College/Northern Essex
Position: First baseman
High school: Three-year starter at first base for Golden Warriors. As a senior, was named Eagle-Tribune All-Star after hitting .400 with 23 RBIs and 13 runs.
College: Broke out as sophomore for Northern Essex, hitting .436 with 23 RBIs and three home runs. As a freshman hit .391 with 27 RBIs. Will play at Merrimack College next season.
Fighting back: Father (Michael) passed away from cancer in 2005. Was cut from the UMass Amherst baseball team later that year.
Family: Younger brother Jeremy plays tennis at Skidmore College. Mother Nancy.
