Boston College Athletics
Summer Ball Q&A: Johnny Adams
August 04, 2014 | Baseball
Rising sophomore infielder Johnny Adams helped lead the Plymouth Pilgrims to the NECBL South Division Semifinals, which begin on Monday night. He tallied a hit in 11 of 13 games, spanning from July 2 to the 23rd, and is batting .213 overall.
How have you improved your consistency at the plate? Has there been anything you have been working on this summer to improve your swing?
The most important thing for me so far this summer has definitely been working on my overall approach at the plate. I have definitely tried to tweak a few things mechanically in my swing, but I have mainly been focusing on working myself into good counts and putting together quality at bats as best as I can. Playing in a league like the NECBL is challenging because you are guaranteed to square off against a good arm night in and night out, but having the chance to see this type of pitching is great and will definitely help me going forward.
What was one of your favorite memories playing your first year at Boston College?
One of my favorite memories this year at BC had to be making our first trip out to California and having the chance to play at Santa Clara University. We ended that trip with three straight wins. Taking the field for the first time in a BC uniform was very special and something I'll never forget.
Is there a big difference between playing with wood bats in the summer and aluminum bats during the regular season? Is there one you prefer?
I think there is a big difference between playing with wood bats and aluminum bats. You see a lot more balls that are hit harder and don't fall in with wood bats opposed to aluminum, where you see more flares and softly hit balls drop in or pop-ups that might carry out of the park. I also think the game itself moves a little quicker with wood because there are generally fewer hits and runs over the course of a game. Using wood during the summer is definitely beneficial because it makes swinging a metal bat a bit easier, but I prefer swinging a wood bat because the overall feel is better. Playing with wood bats also helps collegiate baseball players prepare for the next level.
What are you looking forward to when you come back to BC in the fall?
I'm really looking forward to seeing my teammates and I am very excited to play with the incoming freshmen. We have a great opportunity for success this upcoming season and I cannot wait to get things going in the fall. We really started to pick it up at the end of last season and there are many positives to carry into the new season.
You're from Walpole but you're playing in Plymouth this summer. Do you notice a big difference in the towns? What do you like to do in Plymouth when you are not playing baseball?
Having the opportunity to play and live in Plymouth has definitely been a blast so far this summer and it is exciting to play in a place with so much history behind it. I think the biggest difference between Plymouth and my hometown of Walpole is the size and location between the two towns. Plymouth is a very big town compared to Walpole and could definitely be considered a city based on its overall size. Plymouth is also right along the water in the South Shore, so it has been a great time going to the beach while not playing baseball. Other things we have done as a team outside of baseball are visit elementary schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, as well as hospitals around the area. Overall, I have enjoyed every bit of playing in "America's Hometown" this summer.
