By PAYTON MOODY

Baseball, like other sports, is a game of failures; you’re never going to be successful every time you take the field. Conner Walters, a junior at Central Sallisaw High School, loves baseball for what it is and what it requires of its participants: a love of the game.

“Baseball is my favorite sport,” Walters said. “I fell in love with the game when I was young, it was my dad’s favorite and I wanted to be just like him.”

Walters, shortstop for the Central Sallisaw Tigers, values the lessons he has gained from his time as a baseball player. He has been collecting them since he was 3 years old.

“Sports have taught me how to be patient, a team player and leader,” Walters said. “These traits have also helped me out in real life.”

Being a leader to his teammates has also meant something to Walters during his high school career.

“I’ve learned to pick the guys up when they are down, just like how I’d want them to do the same for me,” Walters said. “We all have bad days, but our bad days can’t define us.”

Working together as a team is key for any sports club to be successful, and Walters reiterates this.

“When you are on a team, you must play as a team,” Walters said. “Baseball takes all nine guys doing their part, everyone is important.”

Walters would not be where he is today without one person who has dedicated almost as much time as him to his sports career: his dad.

“My most important role model has been my dad,” Walters said. “He has spent countless hours working with me after long days, he was there every step of the way.”

Post-graduation plans for Walters include continuing to play baseball at the collegiate level.

In his free time, Walters enjoys working on his baseball fundamentals, playing basketball and hanging out with friends.