Quick Hits: Frank Kelly

High Point University shortstop Frank Kelly will head down to Goodall Park in Sanford, Maine on Sunday to take part in the 2026 NECBL All-Star Game.

Before Saturday’s 10-3 win over the North Adams SteepleCats, the infielder sat down with Nighthawks Beat Writer Thaddeus Sawyer to talk about playing in Vermont and High Point, doubleheaders and desert islands.

Upper Valley Nighthawks: “You and Charlie Jones are both playing in the All-Star Game tomorrow. What's it been like living with him this summer?”

Frank Kelly: “Awesome, actually. I was thinking about it today. I'm not really used to living with people because I've had my own room in college like the whole time. 
Even here I've had my own room, but, living with people, sometimes you get sick of people and whatnot. But me, Charlie and Mateo [Wells] has been nothing but great, so I couldn’t have picked a better  roommate.”

UVN: “What are you looking forward to most about the All-Star Game?”

FK: “Just the experience. All-star games are always really fun, the experience. Just be free, be loose and just play your game. 
You’ve got scouts there, you've got everybody there from around the league, so it's just a cool experience meeting new guys. It's really fun overall.”

UVN: “Had you been to Vermont before this summer?”

FK: “No, never been up here.”

UVN: “What have you thought about Vermont so far?”

FK: “It's awesome. 
It's so peaceful. I love how peaceful it is. No distractions. The guys and the coaches have been awesome so far, interns. Everybody around here just makes the culture even better.”

UVN: “What’s been your favorite activity to do on off days?”

FK: “We actually just drove to watch the Odyssey. That was really fun. I’ve played golf a few times. I'm not a big golfer at all, but the golf up here has been awesome. 
So much fun.”

UVN: “What was it like coming here during the 15-hour trip during the Martha’s Vineyard trip and making your team debut in the doubleheader?”

FK: “I was really nervous because the day before was [in] North Adams. I came here and [Nighthawks Manager] Chase [Allen] told me, ‘you're going to be off your feet, like travel day.’ I'm like, ‘alright, cool.’ We didn't really eat that day at North Adams. 
It was kind of bad, and I was starving the next day. I woke up at 6 a.m. the next day for Martha's to go to Denny's and grab more food at Wendy's, just to have stuff on the bus. The trip was long, but it was a great experience. 
It was so much fun. I was kind of nervous that I didn't really touch a bat or a ball in three weeks before that. Then, first at-bat went by, I got a hit, and then I was smooth from there.”

UVN: “What's your favorite park that you've played in this summer?"

FK: “Probably Bristol. 
My dad played at St. John's back in the late 80s. He said Muzzy Field was his conference tournament field for the Big East, so he was excited to see that. I sent him some pictures. It was a nice stadium and the dirt was really nice, so that was probably my favorite field.”

UVN: “Who’s your funniest teammate?”

FK: “I mean, Kyle [Langley], Charlie, Levi [Jones]. They'll always make me laugh. 
Sarge [Nick Quagliato] is a character. Sarge is naturally just funny, just the way he is, so always gets a good laugh out of me.”

UVN: "You've stolen 26 bases in three years at High Point but 24 this summer to rank within the top five in the NECBL. What’s gone into that jump in base running production?”

FK: “Just freedom, honestly. 
At school, it's a little more strict and there’s more structure to it, obviously. Out here, you can just do whatever you want. It's free. I've been working on new things with vaulting, and it's been paying off. 
It's been good. I just really focus on just playing free and just running whenever I have the opportunity.”

UVN: “What’s been the biggest factor in your improvement over the last two years compared to your freshman season at High Point?”

FK: “It's a mixture of the coaches at High Point and the players I've played with. The coaches, Joey Hammond and Derek Orndorff, they've helped me a ton with approach. I love the approaches they have there. They put me on great plans. 
Then players, like Konni Durschlag, Peyton Carr, Jackson Milton, they've all helped me tremendously with my swing. They're all such great hitters and just being around them, honestly, hearing them talk about the way they hit and just watching them hit. You hit a lot better when you're surrounded by great hitters, so I've been really fortunate to be able to play alongside them.”

UVN: “The High Point campus was in the media a lot during March Madness. What is it like being a student there?”

FK: “It's basically like Disneyland. I remember when I first went there freshman year, there was just so much fun. I felt free and, I mean, the camp is sick. Coaches are sick. 
The culture there on the team is awesome, so all of that just makes it great. It's not just, ‘oh, I'm there for baseball.’ 
I am there strictly for baseball, but everything else outside of baseball makes it even better.”

UVN: “What's your favorite post game meal?”

FK: “ Whenever we have pasta and meatballs. The ice cream, obviously. The ice cream's great.”

UVN: “What's your max bench press?”

FK: “I maxed out of 315 lbs this winter.”

UVN: “Final question, a 
classic. You’re stranded on a desert island. What three things are you bringing with you?”

FK: “Oh, jeez. You know, I'm not going to bring the phone. 
I like to be free and relaxed from that. Is it just me?”

UVN: “Just you.”

FK: “Okay. Oh my gosh. 
Definitely a ball of some sort. I guess a soccer ball. 
I can't really throw with anyone, so I guess I can kick a soccer ball around. A lot of water. 
I'm going to bring an infinite supply of water with me. That can count as one item. 
Then a fishing pole to catch some food.”