Mason Pickering still remembers playing T-ball at Muskogee’s Love-Hatbox Sports Complex. Now, years later, he’s helping lead Hilldale baseball into a season filled with championship aspirations.
Pickering, the Hornets’ starting catcher, says baseball has taught him some of life’s hardest lessons and helped mold him into who is today.
“Baseball is a game of failure. To play the game, and play it well, you have to be mentally tough,” Pickering said. “The game has taught me how to be mentally strong, which helps me in day-to-day life, football, or really anything that I do. It has also taught me how to work with a team. Being on a team my entire life has taught me how to work with a group of people as a unit to accomplish a common goal.”
In addition to baseball, which the sophomore admits is his first love and where he hit .385 last year, Mason was also the backup quarterback on the Hornets’ football team this year.
Hornets’ baseball head coach Nathan Frisby knows how valuable a player Pickering can be.
“Mason is a very talented young man that will be a very big part of our team’s success,” Frisby said. “He led our team in hitting last year and we expect another big year from him. He will anchor our defense at catcher and hit in the middle of our order.”
Mason’s dad, Ty, was his coach on that first T-ball team and Pickering credits his parents for being a driving force in his life.
“My parents are definitely my biggest inspiration,” he said. “The way that they have stuck together through everything and worked as hard as they can to make a better life for our family has really motivated me to do the same for myself. My dream is to give back to them what they have given to me, or at least come as close as I can.”
The bonds Pickering has formed with players from Hilldale’s baseball and football teams are an inspiration to him and, because of that, he’s looking to become the type of leader that will have his teammates’ backs.
“I believe that leadership is about setting an example and being someone that teammates can come to about anything, on or off the field,” Pickering said. “I try my best to always be there for my teammates and help them out.”
