James Brausell’s love for baseball began early, shaped by the sport’s presence in his life. “I’ve always been a baseball guy ever since I was five,” he shared. “I used to live in Stillwater, so I enjoyed home games at Oklahoma State. I grew up around baseball the majority of the time, whether it was at Oklahoma State or at travel ball tournaments somewhere around the country.” That lifelong passion drives James as he leads Gore High School’s team into the new season.
For James, the spark to play baseball came from watching local high school games as a kid. “I was always inspired to play baseball watching the high school baseball games when I was younger,” he said. “I loved the feeling of a late-night close game and the excitement and butterflies I got from watching the boys play.” Now, he’s living out the dreams he had as a spectator.
The team dynamic at Gore this year is promising, thanks to a hardworking and mature roster. “This team’s chemistry this year is exciting,” James explained. “We are all more mature, and we’ve had a great group in the offseason—the biggest offseason Gore has had. We are all hard workers, and we know each other well on and off the field.”
Leadership is central to James’s role on the team. “My role on the team is to be a leader and a brother,” he said. “I love my guys to death, and I want to be the guy they can look at and learn how to be a leader themselves.” With the goal of making the state tournament, James believes the team is ready. “I want to do what Gore hasn’t been able to do in a while, and I feel like we’ve got the guys and the leaders to do so.”
Looking to the future, James hopes to play college baseball and eventually coach. “It’s always been a dream and a plan of mine to go to the next level and play college baseball, so that’s what I work for every day,” he said. “Hopefully, the work pays off!”
