Valliant sophomore Jaxson Beene wears the “tools of ignorance” on the baseball diamond. The phrase is attributed to New York Yankee Hall of Fame catcher Bill Dickey, and it’s meant to “contrast the intelligence needed by a catcher to handle the position against all of the protective equipment you have to wear to play it.” So why put yourself through all of that when you could be taking it easy patrolling the outfield?

“I like catching because you are surveying the whole field and you have to communicate to everyone what’s going on so you’re kind of the captain of the field and you have to be in control at all times,” said Beene, “You also have to know each pitchers’ strengths and weaknesses and adjust yourself to it.”

First year Valliant coach Weston Bates saw enough of Beene last year as an opponent to know his talent.

“I saw him play last year when I was at Hugo, and he made some good plays against us in district competition. He’s a really hard worker and even though he’s primarily a catcher, he can play multiple positions if need be.”

As a freshman last year Jaxson hit .316 with 25 hits, 11 doubles, scored 25 runs and stole 18 bases and he’s planning on improving that this spring.

“My goal this year is to hit at least .450 and throw out every runner that tries to steal on me,” said Beene who is also in the National Honor Society.

Jaxson started playing baseball when he was five-years old in coach-pitch and has grown up watching a lot of baseball.

“I just like the team aspect of the game and the fact that it takes more than one person to make a good team. I guess my role model growing up was Derek Jeter because he was the captain of the team.”

Beene credits his grandfather for being a main motivator in his life as someone that has always been there for him and pushed him and he says he likes to duck hunt in his spare time.

The Bulldogs lost seven starters to graduation so coach Bates will be relying a lot on kids like Jaxson Beene to really step up this spring.