Austin Beesley

By: Michael Garcia

Life brought Austin Beesley talent in the game of baseball, but through life’s struggles, he learned life is more than just sports.

Austin Beesley, Lancaster senior, moved to Weatherford, Texas around the age of 10 or 11 because his parents, who were also teachers, did not want him to go to the rough high school. Beesley played every sport in high school but stayed with baseball and tennis. He is passionate about baseball, and is a right- handed pitcher with side arm, and hand-over-hand styles. In High School he loved to hit but kept working on his pitching to hopefully play collegiately.

After high school Beesley was able to go to junior college for tennis and baseball but chose to pitch at Howard Junior College in Big Spring instead. He transferred to Weatherford Junior College and pitched there as well. His Weatherford team made it to Regionals but the team was disqualified for a brawl against New Mexico Junior College. Beesley and the team were involved in the nation’s first team brawl in a junior college and regional game.

When summer came around Beesley played select/collegiate summer ball against professional baseball and collegiate players. After his sophomore year at Weatherford he decided to transfer to a SFA to enjoy the last two years of college. While at junior college there was only baseball and school, and he wanted to experience the full college lifestyle. Beesley’s father played basketball and football collegiately and his sister that played tennis and softball collegiately as well. During his experience of playing baseball Beesley has been able to become friends with professional and collegiate players. With all his experience in baseball, he would make a great coach. With all the pitching Beesley has done over his lifetime his shoulder has been stressed so he has been taking time off baseball to enjoy life’s many opportunities.

Life is full of pain and let downs, and most people find it hard to bounce back up and continue where they left off. Athletes go through the struggle of injuries in their sport careers, but some see that life is full of other outlets. Usually many athletes consider their sport their life, but for athletes like Austin Beesley, they realize life is more than just sports; it’s a chapter in life.