For the first time since he got to high school, Blane Potts is getting to play baseball this spring. His is a story of perseverance and self-belief.
“Sports has really been my whole life so to see that threatened was tough,” said the Lion senior.
It all started when he suffered a knee injury playing football his freshman year. It took all of that year to rehab and led to some serious discussions with his parents.
“After that first injury my parents said if it happened again that it might be the end of athletics for me,” said Potts.
That possibility was tested in Blane’s sophomore year when he suffered another knee injury playing basketball.
“Rehabbing from a knee injury takes so long and it’s so frustrating but I knew I could come back and I talked my parents into letting me try. And so after losing all of my junior year, I’m finally back,” said Blane.
But during all of this time, baseball paid the price, first due to injury and then to Covid-19 his junior year. But now he’s back playing the sport he says he’s come to love and his coach, Jacob Grace, says it’s awesome.
“Given all of his injuries and then the Covid situation, for him to be back and performing so well this year is amazing,” said Grace.
Blane is hitting .350 with a .500 on-base percentage and is one of the top base stealers on the team hitting in the leadoff spot.
“It’s nice to see him be able to get on the field after missing so much time and have the success he’s having even though the team has not been so successful,” said Grace. “He’s one of those kids that you’d take a hundred of them if you had them. He’s got a great work ethic and is a leader by example for the younger players.”
A three-sport athlete, Blane, who says he likes to fish and hang out with family in his spare time, says he got an early start in sports.
“My parents believed in getting me and my two brothers to try lots of things,” said Potts. “When I was young, I really loved football a lot but in recent years I feel like baseball has become my favorite sport because I feel like I have a better chance to succeed there.”
After graduation, Blane Potts plans on attending Southeastern State and would like to eventually work in physical therapy-a vocation that he’s seen up-close and personal.
