I live with my mom, dad, and older brother Brayden. I started playing baseball when I was 3. My brother was playing t-ball, and I used to bring my Spiderman baseball bat and ball to the field and make my mom pitch to me during his practices. Later, they gave me an extra jersey and snuck me onto the team. I played rec ball in Oakdale for a few years, and when I was 9 I joined my first travel ball team, traveling around the Bay Area/Sacramento and local league play. When I was in junior high, my parents took me to Club All Star in Stockton and I got a ton of great development there, working with some great coaches, and made some of my best friends. Now I play for Oakdale High School in the spring, and NorCal in the summer/fall. NorCal is made up of kids all across California and we travel around CA and the US for tournaments. My parents always encouraged me to follow my dreams and sacrifice time and money to support me.

My dad played baseball as a kid and a little bit in high school, but not at a competitive level like me. My mom can’t hit a ball to save her life ;) She used to be a figure skater.

Last summer my team was competing in Nashville and we were in the bottom of the final inning, tied. There were 2 runners on base, we had 2 outs, and I was up to bat. I got 2 strikes on me, and the pitcher threw my last chance. I hit a hard line drive through the middle, and the runner scored. We won in a walk off. All my teammates rushed the field to celebrate with me, and I jumped about 40 feet in the air in excitement.

All of my instructors and coaches have left a mark on my baseball career somehow. I take pieces from them all and put it together to make me the best athlete I can be. People who have inspired me are my dad, Corey Stiger, Adam Heether. They have been big inspirations at different points in my life. My dad, when I was little, for teaching me how to play; Corey, for taking me to a higher level when I was ready for more; and Adam, for taking me even higher now that I’m older, fine-tuning my swing, and giving me constructive feedback.

My biggest challenge is my size. I’m not super tall and get underestimated a lot because of it. I work hard in the gym to put on as much muscle as I can, and I also work hard to consistently perform every time I’m on the field so I can be counted on to hit hard, run fast, and defend effectively.

I work hard and I’m never lazy. I give everything I can on the field. I run on and off the field. I always take infield warm-ups as if I’m in a game. 

Fishing, working out, and hanging out with friends are things that don’t take a lot of effort, so they’re relaxing and let my mind reset.