DRAIGHTON FLETCHER-VIAN
Even though he had impressive statistics as a running back for the Vian Wolverines football team, baseball has always had a special place for senior Draighton Fletcher.
“My dad and Riley Ellis’s dad started a baseball team when I was five or six and we’ve been playing together ever since. We played in a competitive league around Vian and in some tournaments out of the area growing up. I just really enjoy baseball because you get to be out there with a bunch of your friends.”
In football Draighton has rushed for over 2200 yards as one of two running backs that led the Wolverines to back-to-back state championship games while in baseball, he has garnered several team awards over the past three seasons.
“Draighton is a four-year starter for us,” said baseball coach John Brockman.
“He started off playing outfield for us as a freshman and then moved to catcher. He’s been the team defensive MVP two or three times and the offensive MVP once. He hits leadoff and has led the team every year in stolen bases.”
Growing up Draighton had a role model that was close to home.
“My brother Graylen was a catcher, and he set the bar high for me to try to become a better catcher than he was.”
As a senior this year, Fletcher has leadership as one of his responsibilities.
“I’m a pretty vocal leader and I think a good leader means doing things right even when no one is watching as well as being a good example for younger kids to look up to.”
Of course, being vocal is also a part of being a good catcher as well as knowing how to handle the different temperaments of different pitchers.
“Some pitchers you can just lay into if they’re not doing well and they’ll snap out of it and some of them you just have to tell them to take a deep breath and be calm and relax. Don’t get frustrated if they make errors behind you and just be a calming peace to their madness.”
Two highlights of Draighton’s baseball career include beating Nowata in a district tournament game 22-2 where he went 2-for-3 with five stolen bases and being a single shy of hitting for the cycle two years ago in a regionals game. Draighton plans to attend Carl Albert College next year and study to be physical therapist. Whether he plays baseball or not will probably depend on the outcome of shoulder surgery this spring for a recurring injury.
