Nixon Grace – ‘More Than Just a Bat Boy’

Nixon Grace began the third grade this week at University Heights Academy. If his teacher asked him if he made any friends over the summer, his answer was a resounding ‘yes’.

By day, he was a pitcher and second baseman for the Christian County Cats travel baseball team that won several tournaments throughout the summer.

At night, Nixon was the bat boy for the Hoptown Hoppers summer collegiate wooden bat baseball team. And while it’s safe to say the Hoppers left their mark on Nixon, the reverse is also true.

Nixon brought his bat bag to every game. If there was a game of catch involving the Hoppers, there was a good chance Nixon was involved.

Anthony Smith is a freshman catcher from Greenwood, Indiana. His host family was Mark and Angela Salmons, Nixon’s grandparents. When Smith arrived in Hopkinsville at the beginning of the summer, he found out immediately how much baseball meant to Nixon.

“The first time I got here, he was there waiting and had a glove on waiting to play catch. He had a glove on and we played catch for an hour. Right then I realized he was a high-energy dude and he is willing to run all day,” Smith said.

Smith and the rest of the Hoptown roster took a shining to Nixon almost immediately. The Ohio Valley League can be a grind for players, especially coming off a full college season from February to May. When players were tired or attitudes down, there was Nixon to bring them up.

Garrett Blevins, a freshman from Bloomington, Indiana, said the Hoppers fed off the energy and enthusiasm of their bat boy.

“He’s like our little brother. He came in every day with a great attitude and a smile on his face every time,” Blevins said. “He’s happy when we’re happy, he’s mad when we’re mad. It’s great to see someone his age come in with the energy he does and having a good time.”

Nixon made such an impact on his new “brothers”, that several players drove to Mayfield once Saturday to serve as bat boys for Nixon‘s travel ball game.

But make no mistake. Nixon isn’t a mascot or a token bat boy. He worked hard every game. He retrieved bats, gave fresh baseballs to the umpire, and retrieved a few foul balls.

When the Hoppers’ season ended late last month, they packed up and said their goodbyes to one another. It’s memories the players will take with them the rest of their lives.

And its memories Nixon will also have. So when the teacher asked about making friends over the summer, it’s safe to say Nixon probably made more friends than anyone in his classroom.