Photo by: Will Gentry
Two of Oklahoma Christian’s top spring athletes have found themselves at the head of their respected sports’ leader boards.
Caden Cleveland, a redshirt junior from Moore, Okla., took the long route to Oklahoma Christian; senior Martha Thomas also chose to transfer in from a junior college in Altus, Okla. – both now sit at the top of the batting averages lists for both Eagles’ baseball and softball, respectively.
“I came for a visit and came home,” Cleveland said.
Cleveland completed his freshman year of college at Morehead State University in Morehead, Ky., a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I in the Ohio Valley Conference.
“Morehead was a good school and being Division I, I had a great scholarship,” Cleveland said. “Honestly at that time, I was not ready to play at that level yet but I don’t regret going. It was a great learning experience; get away from home and grow up.”
Cleveland left Morehead for a community college his sophomore year in Kansas at Fort Scott Community College.
Cleveland played baseball, football and basketball growing up. He started catching for baseball teams at age 6, and stuck with that position ever since. He developed his skill and aptitude for hitting as he grew into the sport.
“Since I have been at Oklahoma Christian the coaches have done an awesome job of showing me how to have a good approach to the game,” Cleveland said. “At Morehead and Fort Scott, I did not know what kind of player I was. The coaches here have helped me focus on what I can do. I have discovered my strengths are and focused on those rather than trying to do everything. I have learned to trust my abilities and trust everyone else’s abilities.”
Cleveland had multiple offers to go back to Division I schools along the East Coast upon leaving Fort Scott, however, and was hesitant to be so far from home. It was not until a workout at Edmond Santa Fe High School that he even considered Oklahoma Christian.
“After I left Morehead, I went to a junior college in Kansas,” Cleveland said. “I got a couple different offers to play, but I didn’t want to leave home. I was not even considering Oklahoma Christian when I was looking. I was at a professional showcase at Edmond Santa Fe, and I was just catching for a guy but they had me hit with some of the professional guys working out, and Coach Cobble was there and he approached me and said they needed a catcher.”
Cleveland’s first season with the Eagles was also Head Coach of Men’s Baseball Lonny Cobble’s first at Oklahoma Christian. Cleveland served the team as a redshirt player the first year, focusing on practice and helping to strengthen the reputation of the baseball program.
“To me, his most meaningful contribution is his work ethic,” senior teammate Cameron Keener said. “He has a relentless willingness to work with others and a good positive attitude. His batting average does not hurt either.”
He currently leads the team in batting with a .397 hitting average.
“I came in with Coach Cobble and they had cleaned house with new coaches and a lot of new players,” Cleveland said. “They had all new guys, and I was thinking these guys are going Division II and it was a great spot to start something. I had a chance to be part of something new and that was appealing. The team was not respected, and I wanted to be able to help rebuild the team’s reputation on and off the field.”
Cleveland said that he has grown significantly over his time with the Eagles to understand the importance of accepting his role on the team and trusting his teammates.
“I have learned to trust everyone else on the field,” Cleveland said. “I used to try and do everything. The coaches at Oklahoma Christian have really worked with me to keep me focused. I do what I can at the plate for the team now, taking the hits that I can and trusting everyone else’s abilities as well.”
Next spring marks Cleveland’s last season with the Eagles.
The baseball team currently has a 24-12 record and nine regular season games left to play before postseason games with the NCCAA.
“Caden always gives Oklahoma Christian baseball a good image,” Keener said. “Whether it is promoting games to students, success in the classroom or helping a teammate, he is just a great example of our baseball program to the whole university.”
Thomas also took a less than direct route to Oklahoma Christian University.
Thomas hails from North Richland Hills, Texas, and came to the Lady Eagles after spending two years at Western Oklahoma State College. She currently leads the Lady Eagles at the plate with a batting average of .446.
“I try not to focus on the pitchers,” Thomas said. “I am up there to do my job and try not to let other people in my head. Saying the pitchers are scared gets in my head and I can’t have that mentality. I try to block out what is unnecessary.”
Thomas, like Cleveland, learned that the best way to work in a team was to recognize and understand her role as a player. She played last season as a first baseman and catcher, but this season she has mostly served as a designated hitter.
“Since I have been at Oklahoma Christian, I have become more disciplined as a player,” Thomas said. “I want to do what is best for the team and going up the plate and swinging at everything does not help. I began to focus on one pitch at a time and one hit at a time. If I went up to the plate and let the pitcher get in my head thinking she is scared or nervous, that messes with my focus. Being able to separate that out and block out the noise is really how I think that I have succeeded.”
Thomas came to the Lady Eagles when the team had more upperclassmen than freshmen, but this season the squad is carrying six freshmen with six seniors, and five of those seniors are starting.
According to Thomas, the transition from high school softball to college softball is difficult, and the team had to work together to help the new players adjust and mature into these new roles.
“It is a huge deal for the team to have so many freshmen at once,” Thomas said. “I, and the other seniors, have really had to step up and help teach them how to play college ball. It’s a different mindset and work ethic than high school. We all have to put in the hard work and players cannot be selfish. It can really change your focus in the season considering how a college season works compared to high school.”
Thomas will graduate from Oklahoma Christian following this semester with a business degree.
“Being a senior really changed the focus of my season,” Thomas said. “I knew when I came to Oklahoma Christian that I would not be competing for a national championship because of the conference change, which frustrated me because for softball, college ball is the last step. There is not really a professional option for me. It just ends after this. I want to finish strong and have a great experience.”
Cleveland and Thomas emphasized that the most important thing for each team is for individual players to understand their role for the team to function, because not everyone is the vocal leader or the player on the field calling the shots.
“I am not a captain, but being a catcher I see myself as a leader when I am on the field,” Cleveland said. “I am not the most outspoken but I like to feel that I lead by example. I am just not the type to get everybody going – that is other people’s role. My role is to lead by how I respond to the game and how I respond to others. I think the guys notice that.”
The softball team will lose five starters at the close of this season, but Thomas remains confident that the remaining players will grow into their new leadership roles.
“I think there will be a lot of adjustment for next year, but they can handle it,” Thomas said. “Yeah, we have five starting seniors right now, but there is still a lot of people who will be here to fill those spots. The talent is there, they will just have to work through it.”
The Lady Eagles have five more regular season games before their postseason, and currently hold a 29-14 record.
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