Family has always been a big influence in Nacona Tahdooahnippah’s life and family is one of the reasons he started playing baseball as a kid.
“I’ve been playing about 13 or 14 years,” he says. “What really got me going was my Papa. He would always work with me on a tee. I think he got me a tee for my third birthday and from then on, I’ve been playing baseball.”
Nacona plays first base, third base, and pitches for the Elgin Owls and while some people thrive from the pressure sports bring, Tahdooahnippah says sports actually bring him peace more than anything.
“I like to compete and play with my teammates but I really like the peace it brings me when I play,” he says. “When I’m out on the field, everything is quiet. It’s just me, my teammates, and the other team. I zone everything else out when I’m on the field. It’s just baseball.”
That mindset of peace plays a big role in helping Nacona deal with the natural ups and downs of baseball.
“To me, baseball is more mental than physical,” Tahdooahnippah says. “If you’re pitching and give up a big hit, you have to turn around and pitch again. You can’t hang your head and beat yourself up. You’re always playing for the next play in baseball and that’s what I like about it.”
Being a senior, Tahdooahnippah is seen as one of the leaders for the Owls. Being a good leader means showing strong character which is something Nacona tries to do every day.
“Character is how you act and how you hold yourself accountable in everything you do,” he says. “I just try to act how I want to be seen and how I want others to see me.”
With family playing a big role in his life, it’s no surprise Nacona credits his family with helping make him the young man he is today.
“My mom and dad have been two people that have shaped me,” he says. “My Papa passed this past year but he had been a major factor in my life too.”
Off the diamond, Nacona is a member of the Elgin football team, NHS and coaches little league baseball and softball. Following graduation, Nacona plans on attending OU and majoring in aerospace engineering or business and finance.
