Coach Ryan Hudson of Preston and his four-year starting first baseman Lance Porter are hoping that this might be the year when the Pirates can break past the regional barrier of the past few years that has blocked their trip to the state playoffs. As they near the 2022 playoffs, the Pirates are 15-1 and ranked tenth in Class 2A and Porter has been a major contributor to that success.

“Coaches say all the time they wish that nine more like him about a certain player. But for me that is certainly true about Lance,” said Hudson. “He’s probably one of the hardest working and most dependable kids I’ve ever had. You never have to doubt his will to win. He’s always got the switch turned on.”

Porter is having his best year yet in high school, hitting a sizzling .706 with 33 RBIs coming down the stretch. He’s also achieved one of his season goals in hitting not only his first, but also a second home run in the Weleetka tournament.

Lance credits his mom for getting him started in T-ball when he was young and even though he does pitch on occasion, has always loved playing first base. Though he didn’t really have a pro player role model, Lance did find one in a former teammate.

“Jackson McCullah is a friend and former teammate and he and I would practice together, and he really pushed me to do better,” said Porter who is a member of the National Honor Society and 4H at school. 

As a senior, Hudson says that Lance is already used to being a team leader.

“He’s been our leader the last two years. If he sees a guy not getting after it in practice, he can be pretty vocal.”

In his spare time, Lance likes being outdoors or tending to his cows and goats and says he would like to be remembered as a good leader and teammate after he leaves Preston which he hopes will also include taking a memory of the state playoffs with him.