HONESDALE — Graduation has not been kind to Honesdale’s varsity baseball team over the course of the past few years.
The Hornets have been right in the thick of both the Lackawanna League and District 2 championship chase ever since Ernie Griffis became head coach back in 2017.
However, after once again making a deep run at last season’s Class 4A tournament, Honesdale was forced to undergo a near total rebuild this spring. Seven seniors, all of whom were either starters or consistent contributors, needed to be replaced.
“We’ve lost a bunch of great players the last two years so there’s a lot of holes to fill,” Griffis said. “But, we have some talented younger kids who I think are definitely ready to step up.”
One of those underclassmen is sophomore sensation Connor Tirney. A slick fielding shortstop who bats near the top of the order, Tirney is quickly carving out a spot for himself among the area’s truly elite players.
“I always knew he had it in him,” Griffis said. “Connor is going to be a very bright spot for years to come. I’m looking forward to seeing him grow in all the roles that he will have on this baseball team.”
Dazzling trajectory
Tirney was just six years old when he began playing organized baseball.
He started off in T-Ball with the Honesdale Little Baseball Association, then crossed over to the Wayne Highlands Little League where he was chosen for both the U-10 and U-12 all star teams.
A Phillies fan whose favorite player is shortstop Trea Turner, Tirney has also honed his skills in travel ball. He started off with the NEPA 9 and is currently playing with Baseball U.
Tirney’s high school career began last spring when he earned a spot on the varsity squad as a freshman. A middle infielder with soft hands and a big arm, Tirney eventually cracked the starting line-up at shortstop.
“A freshman isn’t something that you typically see, but that’s the type of quality player he is,” said Griffis. “Connor has just grown so much mentally and physically over the last year.”
Tirney rewarded his coach’s confidence in 2024 with flashes of brilliance both at the plate and in the field. He saw action in 12 games, collecting his first five varsity hits while scoring three runs and driving in three more.
Defensively, Tirney handled nearly 50 chances, recording 10 assists and 28 putouts. He committed just four errors and posted a .905 fielding percentage.
“I’m pretty happy where I am as a player,” Tirney said. “I had a great defensive year last season, but didn’t hit too well. This year, I’m playing really well in the infield and my hitting is starting to come around.”
That’s an understatement.
This year, Tirney has become one of the league’s most feared hitters, especially in key situations. He’s currently batting .360 while leading the team with 10 runs scored. Tirney has ripped eight singles and a triple with six RBIs.
“Connor has continued to be sure-handed in the field this year,” Griffis said. “But now he’s also bringing some real firepower to the plate. Connor is batting second and has done a great job getting on and moving runners over.”
Poised for a run
Honesdale has struggled a bit during the early portion of the season.
Heading into this week’s action, the Hornets have posted an overall record of 3-5. They’re currently 1-3 in Division II action and fourth in the Class 4A power rankings.
The team’s most recent victory came in a wild one against Lakeland. Tirney played a key role in this 11-8 win, going 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs scored and three RBIs.
Tirney also contributed on the mound, working 2.2 innings in relief and earning a save. The hard-throwing righty allowed just one hit, walked one and struck out three.
“We’ve brought Connor in for several pressure situations in relief and he has done everything we asked,” Griffis said.
For his part, Tirney hopes to keep working hard to help the Hornets get back to the district tournament once again.
“I’m super-excited about this year’s team,” he said. “We play with great chemistry and everyone has a fun time and gets along. I think we have a great chance to make a run into the playoffs,“
Weather permitting, Tirney and his teammates will be back in action three times this week with games against Western Wayne, Holy Cross and Lake Lehman.
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Honesdale baseball team features sophomore Connor Tirney at shortstop
