Swinging for the stars

Fishers baseball players mold their successes off idols

David Jacobs jacobdav000@hsestudnets.org

“My idol in baseball is Bo Jackson,” Dunn said. “He played both baseball and football like I do. I have always looked up to him in the fact that he was an amazing running back and great outfielder.” enjoy it more.”

Although Bo Jackson was Dunn’s idol, some unique family ties is what got him to start playing.

That love for the game can also easily be altered due to a professional player an athlete chooses to follow. For Dunn, former Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton was that guy.

The FHS baseball team has been one of the most successful athletic programs the school has fielded as of late. Over the last two seasons, the team has a 68% win rate that includes a 2021 State Championship appearance and a 2022 HCC Championship. Much of this is accredited to Coach Matt Cherry, but the players on the field have utilized their idolizations to get this success.

“My mentor and hero was my dad,” senior infielder Gavin Clayton said. “Because he coached me all through my years learning the game and developing into the player I am today. [I remember] hitting my first home run and giving him a big hug afterwards.”

Senior outfielder Quinn Seedfelt has also looked up to family members through his years playing baseball.

“I [have] idolized my brother,” Seedfelt said. “I learned a ton from him that I still use to this day.”

Unlike Clayton, senior outfielder Carson Dunn has always idolized professional athletes growing up.

“I started playing travel baseball at the age of seven,” Dunn said. “My dads uncle was an insanely talented baseball player that was drafted 22nd overall to the Baltimore Orioles in 1978. He is the one who got [my] entire family into baseball.”

For Seedfelt there were no MLB players to introduce him to the game, but the lifelong love for the game has never faltered.

“I started playing when I was four years old,” Seedfelt said. “I hated it at first, but as I got older I met more people and started to

“I grew up a Cincinnati Reds fan, and Hamilton was always my favorite player,” Dunn said. “He was so fast and could make anything happen at any moment. I wanted to be him when I was older.”

Although the Indiana State football commit may not have an MLB career in his future, Dunn has recently set the school’s record for career stolen bases with 39 and counting. On the other end of the Reds/Cardinals rivalry, Seedfelt has always looked up to Nolan Arenado.

“My favorite player is Arenado,” Seedfelt said. “I am a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan and have always looked up to him on and off the field.”