After a long day of school, junior Walker Baldwin makes his way down three flights of stairs, through the school doors and outside to the fieldhouse for baseball practice.
“Baseball is the only thing I can do,” Baldwin said. “Playing the game is a huge part of my life.”
Baldwin started playing baseball when he was about five years old. Outside of Legacy’s JV baseball team, Baldwin also plays select ball for the Lions during the summer.
“When someone throws a bat at me,” Baldwin said, “that’s what scares me the most in baseball.”
Baldwin was catching a game when junior Seth Jaggers came up to bat. Jaggers swung to hit the ball, but hit Baldwin’s forearm instead. Baldwin said it was a very painful experience. Since that day being hit with a bat has become a regular thing when he catches.
“It’s [being hit with a bat] one more thing I have to worry about when playing catcher,” Baldwin said.
A catcher must crouch behind home plate for nine innings, catch balls moving as fast as 100 miles an hour and avoid head-on collisions and throw out runners trying to steal a base, all while trying to keep themselves safe. Catchers gear and equipment help prevent injury, but Baldwin accepts the risks of an injury every time he protects home plate. Regardless of risk, getting an out and catching for his pitcher and talking to the umpires is what Baldwin loves most about being a catcher.
“I just want to play ball,” Baldwin said about his future plans with baseball.
Baldwin looks forward to catching for junior colleges after he graduates. He plans to continue playing baseball and dreams of playing for the MLB.
“I love the sport,” Baldwin said. “It’s a great way to spend time with friends and I enjoy playing the game.”
