The Basics:
Name: Jim Sullivan
School: Oliver Ames High School
Grade: Senior
Position: 2B and SS
Height: 5'9"
Favorite Subject: Biology
What You Need To Know:
How did you get started and who introduced you to the sport?
I started playing baseball (in some form) at the age of 2. I used to hit off an old umbrella stand in my backyard with a Mark McGwire vortex bat. I guess it looked like a Tee to me. I'm not sure who actually introduced me to the sport, baseball simply spans the entirety of my family. It was just always there. My grandparents, uncles, and parents were obsessed. My sister dated and eventually married a baseball player. One of my cousins is married to former Red Sox second-baseman, Lou Merloni. I was brought up on the sport.
What’s the best part about being on a team?
Fortunately, I have had the privilege of being apart of teams my entire life. For me, the best part about being on a team is the chance to foster relationships that will only grow stronger with both triumph and defeat. I feel as though a large portion of my character stems from the relationships built over the years through athletics. The relationship I have with my OA baseball teammates rivals that of a family. Months prior to this past season, we lost a friend, a teammate, and an unbelievable person, Brendan Wolfe. With nowhere else to turn, our team came together unlike anything I have ever been apart of. Our season was dedicated to what would have been Brendan's senior season. That is what I like most about being on a team.
What is the best part of playing for Oliver Ames High School?
Playing for Oliver Ames has been a tremendous experience. The support that exists between the community and students astounds me each time I attend a sporting event. The sea of orange and black always lifts my spirits and to play in front of such a loyal fan-base is nothing less than incredible.
What are your goals for after high school?
After high school, I plan to study Medicine but I am undecided as to which undergraduate college I will attend.
What is your favorite baseball memory?
I believe that my favorite baseball memory came with the entirety of the 2010 season. Sweeping the Hockomock League and finishing the regular season with a 19-1 record and the number 1 seed is something that I will never forget. Yet, niether is the first-round, extra-innings loss that we suffered to Plymouth-North later that spring. I know that I speak for my teammates when I say that we hope to get them again this year.
When you're not practicing, what can people find you doing?
Off the baseball field, I can often be found with my friends, playing other sports, eating, reading, or fishing with co-captain Ryan O'Shea.
What are your pregame/postgame rituals?
I am a reasonably superstitious person. Before games, I always read a page of "The Last Best League," tape my wrists and those of my teammates, apply eyeblack even if its not sunny, and play a couples games of 2 ball and Flip with my teammates. If it's a home game at Frothingham, we all run to touch the scoreboard in deep center. After games, I like to go to Maguire's Bar & Grill, pick up some Honey Hots, and jump in the pool if it's warm enough.