By Chris Cox
Ever since El Reno junior Grady Lesperance was a little kid, he knew baseball was a passion of his.
“When I was younger, I was able to start t-ball to see what it was all about and I fell in love with it and haven’t stopped,” he says. “I love the baseball community with my friends and family and building relationships. But I also love that I can use baseball as a platform to elevate Jesus Christ and what I believe.”
One way Lesperance tries to show his faith is by being a force of positivity on the diamond.
“I try to be uplifting during tough times or tough innings,” he says. “I try to be that positive attitude we need in the dugout.”
That positivity and uplifting spirit is all a part of Grady’s character, which is something that he has been working on since a young age.
“Character is a really big thing for me,” he says. “From a young age I was taught to not only respect myself but respect others as well. I feel like if you can elevate other people around you, then you can also elevate your own confidence.”
Grady credits his parents with helping shape his character.
“I was raised in a Christian home,” he says. “Through that upbringing, I was able to come up in a positive environment. I have been surround by amazing people that love me and care about me.”
While Lesperance’s goal first and foremost is to be a positive influence on his teammates, there are plenty of things he wants to see his team accomplish on the field.
“For myself, I just want to use my abilities to help our team succeed and get us closer to our goals,” he says. “As a team, we want to host our own regional. If we can host our own regional, we are hoping we can use that to make a state run.”
Outside of baseball, Grady’s other passion is showing pigs for FFA.
“Showing pigs is not just about taking care of an animal,” he says. “It also builds a work ethic. You have to get up early and go to bed late because you’re spending a lot of time around these animals.”
After graduation, Lesperance says he hopes to play baseball in college and ultimately become a fireman.
