Glenpool High School varsity softball player Avery Baker says her game is built on consistency, sportsmanship and the bond she shares with her teammates. A 10th-grader, Baker plays primarily in the outfield and said the toughest part of the position is reading the ball off the bat.

Baker said her father inspires her because he is “always so positive,” and she tries to carry that same mindset onto the field. Outside of softball, she enjoys math, which “comes easier” to her, and said her favorite teacher was Miss Scott, her seventh-grade math teacher, because “she made learning fun.”

For Baker, one of the biggest strengths of softball is team culture. She said the best unwritten rule in the sport is sportsmanship, along with maintaining high energy and always cheering on teammates. “My favorite thing about this team is that we all spend so much time together,” Baker said. “We see each other at school and then have practice and road trips together. It really creates a fun sisterhood.”

That sisterhood shows up in the personalities around her, too. Baker said Natalie Diaz De Leon is the most vocal teammate, while Bella Bible is the one who keeps everyone laughing. She added that the dirtiest uniforms on the team probably belong to her or Lydia Wells, joking that her dad calls them “dirt bags.”

Baker said softball has taught her how to work as part of a team, build a good work ethic and keep fighting when things get tough. Her approach at the plate is simple: she watches where the umpire is calling strikes and balls, then focuses on staying consistent rather than overthinking the moment.

In her free time, Baker likes hanging out with friends, and she said she loves the water “any water anytime.” For a player still early in her high school career, that mix of confidence and positivity appears to be as important as any drill or workout.