Throughout the span of any athlete’s career, they are going to hit a slump or rough patch of some kind. Some can last longer than others, but a struggle of some kind is almost inevitable.

Sapulpa’s Hayden Lance hit one of those on the baseball field last season, but he says that a wake up call from his coach helped him get back on track.

“Last year, I was having a bad couple of weeks,” he said. “My coach pulled me aside before a game. He told me to take myself seriously. I thought of myself as a guy who hyped up the team and who was just kind of there but they really needed me. And I pitched that same day and had one of my best outings.”

Lance is a junior at Sapulpa High School, where he plays pitcher and outfield for the Chieftains. He has played baseball for as long as he can remember and loves everything about the sport.

Lance has had a number of people that have helped him along the way, both as a baseball player and as a person. But out of all of them, Hayden says that there are two people that have made the biggest impact on him.

“My grandma influenced me in so many ways and is one of my biggest roles,” he stated. “She was always there for me in tough situations. Words can’t describe how much she had done for me. Sadly she passed away but she lives through me everyday. The other person would have to be my dad. He teaches me life lessons everyday. He taught me how to throw my first baseball and swing my first bat. He has taught me how to handle things out of my control and to be the best I can be.”

Over the years, Lance has put in a lot of time and work to become the best baseball player that he can be. He knows that, while it may be tough at times, you have to be willing to miss out on things to improve yourself.

“It has taken a lot of sacrifices,” he said. “I had to say no to people at times and sacrifice time into my sport.”