After taking a year off, senior Rowen Noreus returned to the game last year, seeing exponential growth the past two seasons. He continues to improve and impress his coaches and teammates as the season comes to an end. 

Noreus took a temporary break his sophomore year due to being burnt out from baseball, alongside everything else going on in his life. He stated, “What brought me back to the game was all the memories I had and the feeling of being on a team and competing on the field with them.” His teammates and coaches shared their excitement of him being back in the game as well. 

Playing a high school sport while also maintaining good grades is a common struggle for students. Noreus stayed motivated by his fear of failure and continuous support from his family and friends. 

Head coach Brian Broderick shared his influence on him as well, stating, “Rowen has become a leader on our team, and when he plays with joy and stress-free, our team really feeds off his energy. I hope we have influenced Rowen to just do what he loves to do, and to be joyful while doing it,  because he has put in all the hard work behind the scenes to impact his baseball career on the field.” 

“Failure is the big thing that motivates me,” he shared. “I take each failure as a stepping stone to get better. People who are successful inspire me as well.” 

Not only does he find inspiration from Major League Baseball players, but his own teammates as well. 

Noreus shared that the highlight of his high school baseball career, especially this year, is teamwork. Through every game and every practice, the team’s hard work is unwavering and inspiring. The third baseman scored himself a spot as number two in the top ten high school baseball players of the week. Noreus hit three out of four at-bats with four runs batted in, in a 16-6, six-inning win over defending 6A champion Queen Creek.

“This year, our team’s chemistry is unmatched, as well as the way we are all playing together is fun to be a part of, especially for it being my last season with these guys,” Noreus said.

His journey back to the game has not only reignited his own love for baseball, but has also served as a source of inspiration for those around him. His determination, resilience, and leadership have left a lasting impact on his teammates and coaches alike. As he closes out his final high school season, Noreus continues to prove that stepping away doesn’t mean giving up. It can be the first step in coming back stronger.