Cushing High School freshman Sayler Rackley may be new to the Tigers’ baseball program, but he already sounds like a player who understands both the game and the grind it requires.
Rackley, a third baseman, said his approach to sports has been shaped by lessons that reach beyond the diamond. “Athletics has taught me that you need to work for what you want, what you put in is what you get out,” Rackley said. “Also, that you need to work through adversity and not just give up.”
He credits his mom for being the steady influence behind that mindset. “One person that inspires me is my mom,” Rackley said. “She always supports me and encourages me to stay positive.”
Rackley is in his first year at Cushing and said the transition has been made easier by the way the Tigers welcomed him into the clubhouse. “The thing I enjoy most about being a member of Cushing baseball is how welcoming the team was when we moved in, and how much fun we have, there is never a dull moment,” he said. “The things I love most about my team is how fun it is to be part of the team. We are all a bunch of kids playing a fun game, and the team and coaches bring the energy every day.”
On the field, Rackley mans the hot corner, where routine plays can turn tricky without warning. “I play third base and the most difficult thing about it is when the hitter pulls it right down the line,” he said. “If you miss then it looks like you missed a routine play, but if you make the play then it looks like you made a really difficult play.”
Around the team, he points to a few teammates who help set the tone. He said Beau Ladd and Braxton Colclasure are among the most vocal Tigers, keeping everyone locked into the game and making sure each player knows the situation. And when the dugout needs a laugh, Rackley said it usually comes from Isaac DeLong. “He’s a goofball that never runs out of energy and he is just a funny guy,” Rackley said.
Off the field, Rackley enjoys sleeping, watching baseball and “just always competing in something” whenever he can. In the classroom, geography tops his list of favorite subjects, and he lists Coach Landrum as his favorite teacher.
As for his favorite pitch to hit, the freshman third baseman prefers to keep opposing pitchers guessing. “My favorite pitch to hit is… some things are best kept a secret,” Rackley said.
