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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
For years throughout their upbringing, Cam and Craig Hanley were arguably two of the best all-around athletes in the town of Walpole, thriving specifically in baseball and football during their youths. To their peers around Walpole, Craig and Cam were better known as “Hammer” (Craig) and “Nails” (Cam), nicknames given to them by their father, Terry, who is unarguably one of the nicest and well-known guys in the entire town.
Now 22 and having made the transition from third to first base, Cam Hanley enters his senior season at Northeastern University in 2017 as one of the three senior captains of the Huskies, meaning that this will be the final year in which either Hanley brother is able to compete in organized high-level institutional athletics. Hanley reflected on the tremendous honor of being named captain of the Huskies, and says that he cannot thank his teammates enough for the opportunity to lead them.
“Being named captain was a tremendous feeling and is something that I will never forget,” said Hanley. “There are many hours put in and various sacrifices made in order to play sports at the Division I level, and for my teammates to recognize the work I contributed these past three years is something I believe is very special. There is no better feeling than your teammates having faith in you to lead them.”
Throughout their time in youth baseball together, the Hanley brothers formed one of the best one-two punches in Walpole Little League. During Craig’s 12-year-old season and Cam’s 11-year-old season in 2006, the Hanley brothers helped guide the Padres to a WLL Major League Division title on Restaino Field at the West Street Little League Complex. Hammer and Nails also served pivotal roles in Walpole’s Pop Warner football program, playing 11 of their combined 12 seasons (six each) together as linebackers. Cam Hanley says that growing up playing football and baseball in a sports-crazed town like Walpole allowed him to develop character, and shaped him into the man he is today.
“I can’t say enough about growing up in the competitive town of Walpole,” said Hanley. “Walpole has made me the person I am today, as the competitive aspect of sports in this town helped me build character and taught me numerous important skills in life. I believe what I learned growing up in Walpole is what separates me from many people at Northeastern where I continue to grow, learn, and build character every day.”
Following their time in Little League and Pop Warner, Hammer and Nails went on to play for Walpole High, where they each emerged as standout football players for head coach Barry Greener. Craig opted to pursue football as his main sport, earning himself the opportunity to play in college at Bentley University (Division II). Following older brother Craig’s graduation in 2012, Cam continued to thrive on both the gridiron and the baseball diamond during his senior year in 2012-2013, ultimately earning himself a scholarship to play baseball at Northeastern.
During his freshman season at NU in 2014, “Nails” batted .333 with 26 hits, 15 runs scored, nine RBI, and one homer in 78 at-bats as a third baseman. Hanley’s most productive season thus far on Huntington Ave, however, came in 2015 as a sophomore, when he batted .293 with 63 hits, 29 RBI, three home runs, and 15 doubles in 215 at-bats (53 games played).
In just 13 games played so far in 2017, Hanley has already matched his hit total of 20 from last season, during which he played in just 24 games due to injury, and has already knocked in more runs (12) this season than he did all of last year (11). During last offseason, Hanley also took his talents to the storied Cape Cod League where he played for the Chatham Anglers.
While the memories of playing against the Red Sox and competing for a Colonial Athletic Association title for four years are great, Cam Hanley says that by far the most memorable experience he’ll take with him into post-college life is the family atmosphere that he and his teammates have built.
“Baseball is definitely what I will remember most about my time at Northeastern. All the hours and effort put in is something that helped me build character and it molded me into the person I am today. Also, the friends and connections I have made from being an athlete at this great University will always be part of my life going forward.”
Hanley will look to keep up his incredible hitting as he continues to lead this pack of Hounds into the bulk of their conference schedule in the CAA.
Best of luck to Hanley and the Huskies as they head into conference play, and congratulations to Nails for making all of us here in Walpole, who grew up watching and playing alongside him, proud.
