The Valliant Bulldogs just completed their best baseball season in four years and senior Noah Guest played a big part in that. Guest, who started playing T-ball around age three, says the season was full of ups and downs.
“We started off strong but then hit a bad patch and we had to start playing more as a team because there were some people more concerned about individual stats then about the team. But we got past that when we won third place in the Atoka tournament after being seeded 14th going in. We ended up fourth in our district and went 19-14 overall and went to the regional semifinals. I hit .340 with 19 RBIs this season.”
A change that Noah made early in his high school career also benefitted the Bulldogs.
“I started pitching some my sophomore year and got more into it over time after playing first or third base most of my career. I found I really liked it and was fairly good at it. I was 6-4 this year with a 2.06 ERA and 74 strikeouts. One of my memorable times on the mound came in my sophomore year. We were playing Hugo in what was the longest game I’ve ever played. I started pitching but got pulled after they jumped out front. We came back and were within two runs going into the seventh. I came back in to pitch and retired the side in order then got a hit in the bottom of the inning that started a game tying rally and we eventually won 16-13.”
Growing up Noah says he liked to watch former Texas Ranger Adrian Beltre and now Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.
“I just liked the way they played the game and how good they were,” Guest said.
In addition to baseball, Noah is also in the National Honor Society and is the Sentinel in the school FFA chapter where is involved in the forestry program. The great outdoors will also be the area of his college studies according to Noah.
“I’ve got some college credits already built up and I’m going to finish my basics at Eastern State and then go Southeastern to get a degree in fisheries and wildlife sciences.”
