Seneca High School senior pitcher Ian Heffren is capping his prep baseball career by taking his game to the next level in Illinois. The recent graduate has committed to play at Frontier Community College, an accomplishment he calls the highlight of his four years in a Seneca uniform.

Heffren, a right-hander, said earning the opportunity to pitch at the college level is the achievement he is most proud of, a reward for the work he has invested in the sport. Along the way, baseball has shaped how he handles adversity and pressure. “My sport has taught me that in different situations it can be hard, but once you have pressure put on you in practice, pressure in a game does nothing toward you,” he said.

In the classroom, Heffren points to teacher Mr. Paxton as a steady source of encouragement. He said Paxton made advisory a fun, relaxed place where the two could joke around and where he consistently heard that his baseball future was bright.

On the field, teammate and friend Drew Sherwood has had the biggest influence on Heffren’s career and mindset. “Even in tough situations or in times where I would be mad or impatient he would always come to me to pick me up and tell me that we’ve got this,” Heffren said. The two often extended that bond away from school, sharing breakfast trips with coach Sherwood at Momma’s Place, Heffren’s favorite spot in town.

Heffren said he tried to stay active around campus, whether that meant helping classmates with assignments or showing up at football games to support other Seneca athletes. He credits a strong support system for getting him to this point, naming his parents, his coaches and mentor Scott Elbert as the people he most wants to thank. Elbert also provided the best advice Heffren has received: “No matter the causes or the concerns, play as hard as you can, because there’s always someone who is better than you and if you don’t play as hard as you can you won’t be better than that person.”