When you picture a leadoff hitter in baseball, what do you see? Maybe a short, wiry guy. Or maybe a speedster like Ricky Henderson. But when you look at the Sallisaw Black Diamonds lineup you see a guy that’s about 6-2, 235 pounds. Huh? Well, that’s because senior Trevor Sparks can get on base. And, after all, isn’t that what you expect out of leadoff guy?

“Yeah, you usually think of a leadoff hitter as a speedy guy that can steal bases and Trevor is not that,” said his coach Darren Briggs. “But he’s our best and most confident hitter and he has an on-base percentage of over .500. And as a senior leader on the team that ability sets an example as a team player of what is expected in the batter’s box. He’s not going to be so much of a verbal guy as much as he’s going to show you what our program needs from a hitter at the plate.”

Trevor got started with T-ball in a league called the Bambinos when he was three and he had a family member that set him on the path to his baseball career.

“I grew up watching my cousin Matt Oberste play and that really got me going. He played at Connors, at OU and was drafted by the Mets. Hitting has always kind of been my thing so I just go up with the idea that I’m better than the pitcher. I’ve got the mindset that this kid can’t strike me out and I just do my job,” said the four-year starter.

Trevor alternates between playing first base and being the Black Diamonds designated hitter. He also plays football and has wrestled off and on since junior high. He’s also got a good handle on what being a team leader is all about. 

“I think a good leader is someone who comes prepared every day and gives great effort and leads by example,” said Sparks, who led the team with a .350 batting average last year before Covid ended the baseball season almost before it began.

Sparks said he would like to continue playing baseball as he moves on to college next year.