Hilldale High School’s Brayson Parker
Hilldale senior third baseman Brayson Parker has learned to handle the hot corner and the hard days that come with baseball. When the game speeds up or a bad outing lingers, he leans on the person he says has always been in his corner — his mom.
“I would say my mom is who inspires me just because no matter how hard things get, she’s never given up on me or my baseball career,” Parker said. “She has always pushed herself and especially pushed me even when I wanted to quit.”
Parker, who mainly plays third base, embraces the challenge of a position where reaction time can decide a play. “I would say the speed of the game at third is what makes it so hard to play,” he said. At the plate, he knows exactly what he wants to see. His favorite pitch to hit is a low, middle-in fastball.
In the classroom, Parker’s favorite subject is math, and he points to Mrs. Triggs as his favorite teacher he has had at Hilldale. Away from school and the diamond, he enjoys hunting, fishing and cooking and he’s confident in his skills there, too. “Not to brag, but I do cook a mean steak,” he said.
Parker loves the everyday rhythm of the season, from pregame music to the dugout banter. “I definitely enjoy the vibe you get just being around the guys on the team,” he said. “We always find a way to just have fun and play ball at the same time.” He says he and teammate Kyler are probably the most vocal on the field, but credits Jace Paul as the one “that has everyone laughing no matter the situation.”
Through it all, Parker keeps a simple mantra in mind: “Just because today sucked doesn’t mean tomorrow will be better.”
