“My personal goal is to stay consistent and leave it all to God,” Morris High School freshman baseball player Baylor Ledford said, summing up how he approaches every inning, practice and school day. A 6-foot freshman who balances baseball with agriculture classes and hopes to go into the medical field, Ledford said the standard within the Eagles’ program starts with how players push each other. “We have been pushing each other to be the best athletes we can be,” he said, adding that the foundation of their culture is “working as a team and not bringing each other down.”
That mentality shows up in the way Morris prepares. Ledford said the team’s focus is “to improve from the past and play the game how it’s supposed to be played, working and practicing the real way,” a mindset that frames every drill and rep. When mistakes happen, the response is built on encouragement, not frustration. The priority, he said, is “lifting each other up after an error,” a simple idea that helps the Eagles stay together through tough moments.
On the field, Ledford’s versatility gives Morris flexibility all over the diamond as he moves between “pitcher, third, and outfield,” filling whatever role is needed. In the outfield, his game is rooted in focus and anticipation as he studies the field before each pitch, watching “if there are any gaps bigger than others or if I can tell what pitch is being thrown based on body movements.” To handle that workload, he takes his preparation seriously, especially when it comes to staying healthy. He keeps his arm ready, he said, “by making sure to fully stretch and use my arm to its full ability’s.”
At the plate, Ledford’s mentality is aggressive but team oriented. His offensive goal is “to do my part and go yard,” a phrase that reflects both confidence and a desire to help his team in big spots. Looking ahead, his vision is about more than individual stats. He wants “to be known as the team who won the state championship” and said this year’s effort shows “that we have been working more serious and harder than past years.”
Certain memories and sounds stand out early in his high school career. Ledford pointed to “my first school ball home run” as a favorite moment, a reminder of what the work can lead to. Through it all, one song matches his drive — “’I Would Keep Goin’ by Big Scarr,” he said — a fitting soundtrack for a freshman intent on chasing his goals while leaving the rest in God’s hands.
