As a high school kid who spends most of his time on the baseball diamond, I’ve come to believe in something beyond the crack of the bat and the thrill of pitching a no-hitter. I believe in the powerful game-changer called empathy. Baseball has taught me that it’s not just about the results on the field but also about connecting with teammates and opponents.
In the world of baseball, stats, and records often steal the spotlight. But what makes the game truly special are the bonds we form with our teammates. In my sophomore season, I was expected to be the young kid here to learn and grow so that I could be that star pitcher at Davis. When I was a sophomore I ended up being very good as the expectations for me weren’t very high because I was a sophomore. I feel like it let me get away from all the noise and the pressure, and I could pitch well in most of the games and take Davis to many of our wins that season.
The following season, I would have a tough pill to swallow after having a fantastic season as a sophomore. As the other good pitchers from the year before were seniors and graduated, the coaches and the team would rely on me to lead the team and be the star pitcher for the team. As I think many of us would, after a good season, they would go into the next season with a lot of confidence as I did because I knew I could be perfect. I had worked hard in the off-season, so I felt that I would breeze through my junior year and be an all-state player with no problem. And that’s where my issues started, thinking I didn’t need to focus. My skill would take me wherever I needed it to, but the season’s first game rolled around. It was a preseason game. We played in the state championships last year, and my coaches’ trust in me gave me the start. And in my mind, I knew they were good, but I thought I was the best. Nothing bad could happen. I was wrong, and I ended up allowing six runs, and we ended up losing miserably. As the season progressed, I had to learn that I can’t just be cocky and that I need to have a little bit of empathy for the team’s younger pitchers and try to teach them and help them learn from my lessons so that they didn’t end up making the same mistake.
Baseball has taught me that empathy is like a game-changing home run—it can turn the tide of any situation. It’s more than just a sport; it’s a life lesson in understanding and connecting with others. As a high school kid who plays baseball, I believe in the grand slam of empathy, the ultimate home run that brings us closer as teammates, opponents, and human beings. With empathy, I’ve learned that the actual win is not just on the scoreboard but in the hearts of those we touch.
