As the snow melts from the fields and spring sports seem not so far away anymore, Reid Latham becomes increasingly more excited for the upcoming baseball season.
Reid, now 17 years old, has been playing baseball since he was 6 years old, and welcomes the new season with open arms every year. He felt that same excitement when starting on his first T-ball team at the age of 6, as he was guided to the sport by his dad and a close family friend, and had never looked back.
Latham remembered that “At a young age being on a baseball team taught me friendship and team comradery”. He stated that he met most of closest friend today while playing summer baseball at the age of 9.
As he got older and moved on to play for Little League teams, Reid competitive spirit grew. He joined joined the club team to play at a higher level and prepare himself for the transition from a small Little League team to a highly competitive high school baseball program at Oliver Ames High School.
Reid thinks back to a time when he was younger and remembers, “Me and my friends used to go to all of the Oliver Ames baseball games and we idolized the players, hoping to be them someday”. For Reid, he didn’t just want to hope, he made it his goal that through hard work and determination he would be like them.
He went to every captains practice the fall before his freshman year season, but was disappointed when he only made the Freshman team. Instead of letting this bring him down, he made it his motivation to get better. His hard work paid off when after tryouts sophomore year, Coach Abarr told him that he had made the varsity team. Even though he didn’t play much, he loved being apart team and looked up to those who “embodied leadership and and teamwork” says Reid.
During junior year he was the starting pitcher, and was doing amazing until he unfortunately broke his hand. He finally had everything he worked for since he was six years old, only to be taken from him by an injury. He was projected to be out the entire season. Instead of being down on himself, he put all of his energy into cheering on and partially coaching his teammates. Reid states, “my injury only strengthened his relationship with his team, and made me come back even stronger than before.”
As the season dragged on and the team kept winning tournament games, there was a chance reid would be able to play again. He recovered in time and helped the team win the third round game. Not only his participation on the field that day, but off it for the entire season is why Reid was voted captain of the team for his senior year season.
Along with being “looked up to and respected as a leader on and off the field”, Reid also attributes his success in being named captain to being “an approachable teammate.” As acting captain this year, Reid hopes to lead his team to victory.
When it came time to start looking at colleges, Reid was on the fence about going to a small school to continue his baseball career or attending big school while leaving baseball behind. He was recruited by many schools for the sport such as Brandeis, Hamilton, Trinity, Wesleyan, and Rollins. After much consideration, Reid decided to continue his long journey with baseball at Brandeis University saying, “Baseball got me into schools above my academic caliber so it was an easy choice.”
When asked what he is looking forward to while playing for Brandeis, Reid answered, “Getting to know my new teammates like i did when I was younger.” When asked what he was nervous about he answered, “managing my schoolwork with my baseball obligations.” Even with his doubts, he is excited about continuing his passion for the sport.
Throughout his entire baseball journey Reid states that the biggest things he has learned was leadership and how to be there for his teammates, and during his 11 years of playing he says, “I would not change anything about it.”