Matthew Becher and Payton Fox Balance Upcoming College Season and Senior Year

Maddi Ruscoe

Spring sports are coming up very quickly. Baseball and softball committed Seniors, Matthew Becher and Payton Fox, were interviewed about the upcoming season and what it is like being a future collegiate athlete.

Becher’s future baseball career is with Bluffton University in Ohio, while Fox’s softball career will continue at Ball State University, here in Indiana. No matter the college that they are attending, there are going to be expectations for the coaches prior to the opening season. Here, we can get word from the commits themselves.

“My coaches have really just asked me to keep my grades up, keep practicing, and play over the summer,” Becher explains.

He shares that it is stressful being committed because of the pressure of trying to keep grades in check, so scholarship money is not lost.
Fox said something similar, stating, “It is less stressful not having to worry about recruiting in general, but also, you are trying to prove to other people that you deserve to play where you’re going to play.”

Becher has a busy schedule going on right now, trying to follow the coach’s orders and get as prepared as he can for the upcoming season. He is doing travel baseball training every Sunday along with regular practices every day. He also does Passion Resilience Process Training (PRP) at Finch Creek, twice a week. PRP trains all ages with different skills so the business can lead players to reach their athletic goals. Instead of one instructor, Matthew works with multiple coaches at Finch Creek, all teaching him different aspects of baseball.

Fox has her own, personal way she is preparing for this Softball season. She has a hitting instructor, Toby Ricard, whom she has been training for the past four years now doing lessons. Also, on her own time, she practices in her basement, hitting off a tee.

With all the training that is going on, the athletes remain loving the game and stay eager for what is coming next.

“It has always been a dream of mine to play college baseball, so I am excited to take the next step and play at the next level,” Becher says.

Fox feels the same way as she explains that she is so excited to play at the next level and cannot wait for the future that is ahead of her.

Both athletes are now able to pursue their childhood dreams and are beyond thankful for their opportunities.