Although the Covid pandemic has been a negative in most people’s eyes, it has served as a positive for some college athletes who gained an extra year of eligibility. Such is the case with Connors State College baseball player Kaleb Glass from Vian.

“Academically he had everything he needed to graduate but he elected to come back for a third year,” said Cowboy coach Perry Keith, now in his 37th year at the helm of the Connors program. “That kind of persistence is a great example of what our program is all about. He was a role player his first two years but he elected to come back and is now a starter for us in the outfield and leads the team in hitting (with a .464 average in the early part of the season). And as good a player as he is, he’s a thousand times better human being and that’s why he’s the kind of athlete that fits the Cowboy Way.”

Described as the team jokester, Glass says loving baseball runs in his family.

“My dad played college baseball and I’ve just followed in his footsteps,“ said Kaleb who was also a basketball player in high school. “I came back this year because I wanted to prove to myself that I could make it here full-time. Becoming a starter this year is a dream come true for me because I’m not sure a lot of folks back in Vian believed in me.”

Glass tips his hat to those ahead of him in school and to a former major leaguer as role models that he’s admired and learned from.

“My first two years really helped me by being around the older guys and seeing how they went about their business. Growing up I admired Ken Griffey Jr. I just liked the way he went about playing and the kind of swagger he had. My father and brother have really motivated me so I want to go somewhere after Connors and play baseball and get a degree so I can help my family out.”

Perry Keith feels that Kaleb has what it takes to play at the next level and his persistence will help him get that degree. He’s also proud of what he and others like him will take to the next level of life as a result of their time at Connors State.

“Our culture here at Connors is working hard and doing the right things on and off the field. I also want to help them develop into becoming good men-husbands and fathers-on down the line. And all of this takes work and sacrifice. It’s guys like Kaleb that make our program successful.”

And it’s programs like this that help mold athletes like Kaleb Glass into the Cowboy Way.