Rose Hill’s Cooper Nace

By Hayden Swope

After a competitive school and club season last year, Rose Hill junior Cooper Nace is ready to get back on the field to test his skills. Nace was a second team all-league and first team all-county first baseman last season for the Rockets.

“Knowing that I have my family and friends as well as the town of Rose Hill behind me, it’s a great feeling,” Nace said.

Nace has been helping to prepare the team and himself for the season ahead by staying in the right mindset and putting in work after hours.

“The team has been getting together for batting practice two to three times a week, and the pitchers have been throwing up to two bullpens a week getting ready for the season,” Nace said. “My main weakness that I have been focusing on is not to let the little things get to my head. As an underclassmen last year I let a lot of the little things get to me and it caused more errors.”

While he has been training on and off the field, Nace has also set some goals for not only the team, but himself as well.

“Some of my personal goals this year are to hit better than I did last year, and to have a better ERA than I did last year,” Nace said. “As far as team goals go, I feel like most teams have the same goal in mind, going to state.”

Between school ball and club ball, Nace has high aspirations for his athletic future, and part of that has been the support he’s seen from his family.

“My future plans are to play baseball in college,” Nace said. “I would say my baseball “purpose” would be to make my parents proud, and to go to the next level playing baseball.”