WEATHERFORD —
The Weatherford High School baseball program consistently accomplishes at least a couple of things (though there are actually many more) on a regular basis. The Roos are a regular bracket-dweller in postseason play, and there is an annual migration of WHS baseball players who further their baseball careers at the next level.
A gathering at the Outback recently perpetuated the latter, as a couple of senior Roos celebrated plans to attend college while filling up extra-curricular time on the baseball diamond.
Dustin Williams, a 6-2, 220-pound WHS senior student athlete, will head to Oklahoma State in the fall to continue his education while playing baseball for the Cowboys. Williams thoughts regarding baseball have been relatively singular for a long time.
“Baseball is the sport I have always wanted to play for as long as I can remember,” Williams said. “Since I realized I was pretty good at the game, I have always wanted to play college ball at a high level, and if the opportunity is there after I finish college, to go even further.
“The thought of getting to play in the Big 12 is really exciting.”
Though Williams has played several positions during his high school career, he feels that the Cowboys will likely use him in the infield, at first base. And the choice of Oklahoma State was literally a passing fancy for the Weatherford Senior.
“I really didn’t have any ties or particular interest in Oklahoma State, but I was passing through [Stillwater] and I really liked the campus,” he said. “And I went back up there for a camp, and really got interested in the university.
“I had the opportunity to meet the coaches and a lot of the guys up there and rally liked the feel of the place.”
Another recurring theme from the WHS baseball program are the kudos the players have for the Weatherford coaching staff.
“We do a lot of off-season work, in the weight room and with other things, but I think the overriding thing about Coach Massey and his staff is that he really pushes us individually to be the best ball player we can be,” Williams said. “And that of course, makes us better as a team.”
Williams has yet to decide the area of study he will pursue beyond his requisites, but is leaning toward a business major.
The coaching staff at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and the scenery of the Texas coast line were a couple of big draws for WHS senior Grayson Huffman, who signed a letter-of-intent to join the Islanders next year.
Huffman got a clue he was perhaps destined to have an extended career playing baseball when he was a 12-year-old pitching from 60 feet in a 14-U league. The left handers’ velocity was good and he had a penchant for sending the older batters back to the bench.
“I went straight from little league to that level and I was told then I might have an opportunity to play at the college level,” Huffman said.
Huffman is flirting with the idea of pursuing a bio-medical engineering degree, but is more interested in getting his feet wet first with required college studies before deciding conclusively where his vocational field may reside. And when studies are done for the day (of course) Huffman would also like to familiarize himself a bit more with coast fishing.
Both of the Weatherford student-athletes agree there is unfinished business to take care of while they are still wearing Roo Blue, particularly now that the immediate future plans are taking care of.
“Getting Weatherford as far as we can go in the playoffs is the most important thing to us, right now,” Huffman said. “We have a lot of talent on this team and I would like to be a part of going deeper into the playoffs than we ever have.
“We are working hard this fall, and every day to achieve those goals.”
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