“You’re not going to be playing at 4:15 [p.m.] today.”
Shortstop Landon Bonner looked puzzled as he stood in head coach Corey Farra’s office. Talk of him moving up to the varsity team had circulated through team group chats and in locker rooms all day, but he never took reps with the varsity players or discussed playing with the team before.
Then Farra continued with a grin: “You’re going to be playing under the lights at 7 [p.m].”
That day, Landon became the only freshman on the varsity team.
“Baseball is a mental game,” Landon said. “But no matter what happens — if [I] go 4 for 4 or 0 for 4 — I always tell myself to keep going. You have to find [a] path that’s not all bumpy, where you can just go out there and have fun.”
Growing up, Landon watched his dad play men’s softball, which sparked his interest in sports. He didn’t grow serious about baseball until he was in eighth grade, playing the sport in and out of school. While traveling with his club team, Landon played against the Five Star National team multiple times and received a text asking to join the team.
“I was just amazed,” Landon said. “I had no words [because] I was so surprised. I kept repeating [the fact] to myself: I could play the game I loved [at] a higher level.”
Landon continued to play baseball for Five Star National as he moved into this year. He was the only freshman on JV Blue, as most were put on JV Black. Farra said he saw an extra base hit every time Landon played.
“He’s a talented athlete,” Farra said. “But what I love most about Landon is he is a Hebron Hawk. Hebron High School is important to him. He cares about the jersey he’s wearing.”
Shortstop Austin Nicholson and second baseman Adam Alvarez both suffered injuries halfway through the season, which is why Landon originally moved to the varsity team. Landon got a hit at his first game, which the team lost 8-5 at Denton Guyer.
“I was just happy to be there,” Landon said. “All the nerves went away after I got that hit. I was way more relaxed, and I could focus better. Everything else just melted away, and I was just playing baseball again.”
The game was the final of what was a five-game losing streak for the team. The team won seven out of its last nine games. Infielder Luke Sharp said Landon’s energy helped create a spark in the team.
“There’s always a lot of [talking] when a freshman joins the [varsity] team,” Sharp said. “It’s always a big deal. But Landon got to the field and competed — he’s been playing really well for us since his first game. We’re all just happy to have him.”
Landon said he hopes to make the playoffs the next three years, and to make it as far as the team can this season. He hopes to play professionally one day.
“I just love hitting the ball,” Landon said. “I love feeling the ball go in the glove. I love the field in general — every part of the game. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”