An Inside Look: Makenzie Baker

Hands gripped tight on the bat, eyes focused on the pitcher. Standing behind the plate on the softball field, JV short stop Makenzie Baker, is in her favorite place on earth.  Her team is in the dugout with fingers clinched to the chain link fence anticipating her next move.

“If I could be doing anything I would be hitting the ball,” Baker, a sophomore, said.

She watches as the ball is released from the pitcher’s hand and tracks it all the way in. Her bat flies through the air while Baker sprints around the bases with a smile on her face.

“Softball has always been my love. It’s a get away,” Baker said. “Hitting is my favorite part of softball though; it’s just me and the ball.”

Baker has played softball for two years and is hoping for a spot on varsity next year. As the starting short stop, Baker is also a leader on  the team.

“When I’m at the plate, I’m the calmest because I know I’m in control of the situation,” Baker said. “I get to decide what happens and that’s a very rare thing.”

“Baker is one of the most determined players on the field,” teammate Keana Hinds said. “Whenever you’re at a softball game you can always tell Makenzie apart from her positive attitude and her drive to win.”