Passion for baseball drives Tuba City junior

FORT DEFIANCE

At an early age, baseball was introduced to Charles Henderson III.

He fell in love with baseball and it has become his passion. Henderson said he experienced other sports, but there is no comparison to the sport of baseball.

“I’ve decided that baseball is the only game I want to play,” he said. “I’ve been working on my skills set so much that it would be a waste of time if baseball wasn’t my passion.”

Henderson said his love for baseball is growing stronger and his passion makes him want to digest all of the challenges the game offers.

Beginning at little league, Henderson learned the basic fundamentals and moved through the ranks.

Now a 16-year junior at Tuba City High School, Henderson has become the hub of the Warrior baseball team. (Academically, he has a 4.300 grade point average and is third in his junior class. He is a member of the high school’s National Honor Society.)

Henderson is a versatile player. He plays second base, shortstop, catcher and pitches. He said he has become accustomed to playing second base, a position he first learned as a 7-year-old little leaguer.

Henderson said the Warriors are having and up-and-down season. The Warriors are 9-9 overall and 1-4 in Division IV, Section I play. The Warriors are No. 33 in the statewide power rankings.

The state baseball tournament begins on April 29. The state championship is scheduled for May 14.

“Our team is competitive and we can win, but I think we are setting ourselves up for more success (season) next year,” he said. “But that isn’t an excuse on why we can’t win this year.”

As a starter in all 18 games this season, Henderson is having a productive year at the plate. He is batting .400. He has 21 hits, scoring 16 runs, has 10 doubles and five triples.

“Batting-wise, I try to take batting practice every day and get into pitching counts where I can be successful,” he said.

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