By Dan Hardenbrook
Newberry High School graduate Matthew Rahilly, who concluded his high school career with an incredible 24 varsity letters in six different sports, has decided what he will try next. One of the greatest in Indians history will be playing baseball at an elite level. Rahilly will join the Carolina BlueClaws, a prestigious, nationally recognized collegiate prep program based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
The BlueClaws gather players from across the United States, and is a launching pad for players who want to reach the highest college levels and programs. The team showcases excellent players that have the 
potential to play university-level baseball. The BlueClaws compete nationally in showcase tournaments and events, and play a schedule that includes college and other post grad collegiate prep teams. A decorated group of coaches and instructors help players reach that potential, and BlueClaws alumni have played for programs at every level of NCAA baseball and some have even signed with professional teams and reached the highest levels of minor league baseball and Major League Baseball.
The decision was anything but easy for Rahilly, who had multiple opportunities to play various sports.
“The recruiting process for me was not very easy, and most of that had to do with me not being able to decide what I wanted to do and what sport I wanted to chase,” said Rahilly. “If I would have started in my junior year during football or hockey, I could have had a lot better looks, but I never really understood that you have to go after the schools and that they don’t just automatically come after you. I always thought that if I was good enough, someone would find me, and when that didn’t happen I had to decide if I wanted to give up or go and try to chase something that I have spent thousands of hours doing.”
Rahilly participated in football, hockey, basketball, baseball, track, and golf during his four years of high school. He’s been through thousands of practices, and he and his family have travelled more miles than you can imagine.
Matthew’s mom, Beth, has a sport practice and game calendar that maps out all of the siblings’ events. It’s the stuff of fabled legends around Newberry. His dad, Ben, who often coached Matthew’s teams, has driven across Michigan so many times he could probably do it blindfolded by now.
Matthew is the middle Rahilly child between four of his favorite people on earth: older siblings Jeff and Katie Sue, and younger siblings Becca and Daniel. His family helped him make the decision.
“We talked about how Jeff made his decision to go play hockey. His reason was hockey practice was the only sport he looked forward to going to, and that’s how I feel about baseball. I could field grounders or catch fly balls all day and not get bored or tired of it.”
Rahilly acknowledges that other sports gave him incredible memories, too.
“I don’t think any sport can match the feeling that football has playing Friday nights under the lights with your hometown cheering you on, but that chapter in my life is over,” he said. “If I had continued to play football, the college games are during the day and I’m playing for a school that I have no roots in, and that’s why I loved playing high school sports in Newberry. I had the opportunity to play for every person that played for me and every kid that will play after me. I wanted to honor them and make them proud.”
He also considered hockey. “The speed of hockey is untouchable and the rush of flying down the ice going as fast as you can is an amazing feeling, but I just didn’t love the practices,” he said.
So how did the small town U.P. kid who could’ve gone anywhere pick the sunshine and sandy beaches of the Carolina coast? It was all about the opportunity to see where the game could take him.
As part of the BlueClaws program, Rahilly will get an experience much like traditional junior college or lower level programs. Players in the program take online college classes that will eventually count towards a degree. When their time with the team ends, typically after one or two seasons, many transfer directly to high level college programs and universities. They are prepared every step of the way academically, personally, and athletically.
“This is an opportunity for me to see what this baseball thing is all about, to finetune my abilities, and have the opportunity to play against the kids that play baseball year around and see how I stack up against them,” Rahilly said.
Indians Coach Dan Hardenbrook worked with Rahilly to get film and stats to coaches from programs that Rahilly was interested in joining, and has seen the challenges Upper Peninsula players face.
It’s a testament of Rahilly’s work ethic, talent, and more importantly his character that he received multiple offers and interest.
“It’s extremely difficult to get recruited in the U.P. in general, but especially in sports like baseball. With the weather, the seasons are extremely short, which means players are more inexperienced than those from other areas.”
Players from other areas are often more developed and have had more access to training facilities.
“Half of our season is spent practicing in the gym, when players in other states or even the lower peninsula are outside on a field. Schedules get packed tight and if you can’t travel far, you’re playing other small schools in the area,” says Hardenbrook.
Rahilly has been instrumental in Newberry sports, where he was heavily relied upon.
“We’ve needed him to play as many sports as possible, so there’s no offseason to train or focus on a specific sport,” Hardenbrook said. “I actually think that helps in the long run because he is so well rounded.”
Hardenbrook said Rahilly’s greatest strength is his character.
“I know he is going to work hard, be a leader in the clubhouse and the community,” Hardenbrook said. “He’s an incredible teammate. Carolina is getting a young man who will give them everything he’s got and they get a tremendous talent who now can really work and focus on being a part of a program with coaches and experts who will be dedicated to making him even better, and not just at baseball.”
The BlueClaws are coached by Willie James, a former pro player who spent time with the Atlanta Braves organization. When his playing days were over, James moved into training and coaching, molding athletes into better ball players and even better humans.
James first met Rahilly on the Newberry Baseball team’s 2024 spring training trip to Myrtle Beach. Limited to no games or scrimmages due to MHSAA rules, and rained out from practicing, the Indians were put in touch with James by former Head Coach Jason Tokar, who helped the team to rent time at the Carolina Elite facility.
Hardenbrook asked James to meet one on one with players interested in playing past high school, including Rahilly. Both coaches stayed in touch, exchanged film and notes, and after a record-breaking senior season for the Indians, Rahilly started to gain attention.
James became a confidant and guide for Rahilly and his family during the recruiting process. His own son went through the BlueClaws program before landing scholarship offers from Division 1 power conference schools Virginia and Mississippi State and is playing this summer for the Kalamazoo Growlers.
Rahilly will report to Myrtle Beach soon, and James is eagerly awaiting his Blue Claw Yooper. “I can’t wait to work with Matthew this year!” James said. “I know he will come back home with some great stories!”
Rahilly says James’ loyalty made the decision to go halfway across the country easier.
“Coach Willie seems like an amazing guy. He’s full of energy, very knowledgeable and respectful,” Rahilly said. “I really believe that he wants the best for his guys, and he will do whatever he can to help them and put them where they need to be! He’s the kind of person that will tell it to you straight but also put his neck out there for you, too.”
Rahilly is looking forward to the growing experience.
“I really want to use this opportunity and time to just see what kind of person I am,” he said. “When it comes to just being a person, I’ve put my identity in sports and what I can do, and now it’s time for me to find out who I really am and not worry so much about what I do, but how I do it. I’m also really looking forward to having time to grow in my faith and get a routine in my life.”
His life has been chaotically busy as he navigated playing so many sports.
“I always felt pulled in 12 different directions and I wouldn’t change any of those days for anything,” he said. “I’m grateful for every single one of them.”
Regardless of what the future holds on the diamond, this much is certain: Matthew Rahilly isn’t just a star athlete. Matthew Rahilly is a star human being. And his future is bright.
