Plattsburgh State Athletics

A dominant two-sport student-athlete, Denis Kennelty starred as a catcher and an infielder for the Cardinals’ baseball team and was also a member of the offensive and defensive lines on the Plattsburgh State football team. 

Denis was a three-time First-Team All-SUNYAC honoree in baseball, earning the honor in 1967, 1969 and 1971. He holds the program’s career record in batting average (.379) and also ranks second in program history in single-season batting average (.451 in 1971). 

Denis also hit eight triples during his career, which is tied for the fifth-most in the program’s record book.

Date of Induction into Cardinal Sports Hall of Fame:
April 22, 2022

Where is he now: 

After completing his graduate degree in 1972, he began a 37-year career at Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) in Utica, N.Y., in the fall of 1973. He served in varying capacities in admissions and enrollment management over the years, eventually completing the last 15 years of his career as Director of Admissions.

He served on the State University of New York College Admissions Professionals (SUNYCAP) Executive Committee as a community college representative for a number of years, serving as President of the organization in 1992.

Outside of the work arena, he enjoyed, racquetball, handball, softball, golf and coaching baseball at both the Little League and Babe Ruth levels. He also enjoyed watching his sons, Sean and Eric, both now in their 40’s, play youth hockey.

He retired from MVCC in 2010. Denis and his wife, Christine, moved to Ocala, Fla., immediately after his retirement. They have been permanent residents of Florida since that time. His hobbies now include photography, a bit of drawing, a bit of painting, canasta with his wife and friends and an occasional round of golf or two. And, most important of all, toasting the end of the day with his wife and a glass of cabernet at sunset on their westward looking patio.

Favorite Plattsburgh State Sports Moment: 

“It was during a doubleheader in May of 1971 against Fredonia at home. My last season at the college was coming to an end. I went 7-for-8 at the plate that day. In the first game, I had three hits, scored three runs and drove in four. We won 11-5. In the second game, I had a two-run home run, scored twice and drove in four runs. Unfortunately, we lost 9-7. Except for the fact that we lost the second game, it was a pretty good day at the ballpark.”