Hayden Brown is a senior at Bartlesville High School and has been around baseball for a lot of his life. He started playing for Bartlesville his freshman year, but his love for the game started way earlier than that. Hayden plays first base, a position he really enjoys because of how important it is on the field.
“I’ve been playing baseball since I was three. I’ve just always loved it, so playing for Bartlesville was something I really wanted to do,” Hayden said. “It’s a big role on the field, and I like being involved in a lot of plays.”
As a senior, Hayden is excited for his final season, even though it hasn’t officially started yet. One thing he’s really looking forward to is the team’s spring break trip. He’s looking forward to going to Alabama and experiencing the trip with his teammates. When it comes to challenges, Hayden believes the mental side of baseball is the toughest part. “Mentality is a big part of the game,” he explained.
To prepare before games, Hayden focuses on getting himself in the right mindset. “The biggest thing is getting my head straight. I listen to hype music and think about the game ahead of time,” Hayden said.
Hayden looks up to MLB star Paul Goldschmidt, someone he tries to learn from as a first baseman. “He’s a great first baseman and hitter,” Hayden said. This year, Hayden feels like he’s improved the most with his hitting. It was something he struggled with, so he has really been working on it.
For Hayden, the best part of being on the team isn’t just the games, but the people. “The memories with teammates and our culture are the best part. It’s just a great space to be in,” he explained.
His favorite class right now is tech, which is a really fun experience. Baseball has also helped him stay focused academically.
“It’s made me focus more on my schoolwork so I can have good grades during the season,” Hayden said.
A typical in-season day includes school, about two and a half hours of practice, sometimes homework, and then getting ready for bed. His advice to younger athletes is to work as hard as you can all the time and always give maximum effort.
Looking ahead, Hayden is excited for everything baseball brings. “I’m just excited for all of it and being with my team,” he said. After graduation, Hayden plans to attend OSU IT in Okmulgee and earn a degree in construction management.
