For Kingfisher High School freshman Drew Snider, varsity baseball is about much more than innings and at-bats. It is about a homegrown group of kids who have grown up together and now wear the same jersey for their hometown.
Snider, a versatile contributor who plays infield, outfield and pitches, has earned his way into the varsity mix as a freshman. He said the toughest part of juggling multiple spots is “doing the little things right at every position,” a detail-oriented approach that mirrors how he tries to handle the game as a whole.
The player he looks to as a model is Texas Rangers star Corey Seager. Snider said he admires “how professional he is and how he goes about and does things,” trying to mirror that calm, steady presence in his own routine. When he steps into the box, he is hunting a mistake: his favorite pitch to hit is “a fastpitch breaking ball that doesn’t break.”
Around school, Snider’s favorite class is Oklahoma history, where he especially enjoys learning under Coach B. Away from the diamond, he keeps things simple, spending most of his free time hanging out with friends, golfing and watching Oklahoma State and the Rangers whenever he can.
Ask him what he enjoys most about being part of the program, and Snider does not hesitate: it is the daily connection with his teammates. “Getting to be around my friends everyday” is at the top of his list, and he said he loves the “homegrown feel” of Kingfisher baseball and the fact that “we have known and play with each other most of our lives.”
He credits athletics with teaching him traits he knows will matter long after his high school career ends — “self-discipline, accountability and mental toughness.” Those lessons are reinforced by teammates like Sloan Merrill, whom Snider calls the most vocal Yellowjacket and the one who keeps everyone laughing while still “working hard and bringing a lot of energy.”
For a freshman already contributing all over the field, that mix of versatility, professionalism and small-town pride is giving Kingfisher another promising piece for the future.
