Ryder Smalley of Sequoyah Claremore High School is a driven, team-first baseball player whose story is defined by family influence, mental growth, and a deep love for the game. His words reveal a young athlete who understands that success comes from hard work, resilience, and the people who support him on and off the field.
For Smalley, the bond with his teammates is at the heart of his high school experience.
“I love how my team always has each other’s backs if something happens on or off the field,” he says, explaining that many of them have played together outside of school for years and “have always gotten along well.” That sense of trust and chemistry has helped shape not only their performance between the lines, but also the culture of support that surrounds the program.
Family plays an equally important role in his journey, especially the influence of his dad.
“My dad inspires me the most,” Smalley says, noting that his father played baseball growing up but stopped after high school, even though he “most likely could’ve played college.” That unfinished path fuels Ryder’s own motivation, as he explains that his dad has “paid and driven me to all my stuff and I really want him to see me succeed in the sport.”
Over time, Smalley has also matured in how he handles adversity.
“I’d say my mentality has had a good improvement,” he reflects, admitting that he used to “shut down and have bad body language when something happened, even if it was out of my control.” Now, he focuses on brushing off mistakes and “show less bad body language when something happens,” a shift that helps him stay locked in for his team.
In the classroom, Smalley’s favorite subject is computers, and he points to Ms. Keathley, his 11th grade computer teacher, as his favorite teacher. While baseball dominates his schedule, that interest in technology hints at a curiosity beyond the diamond. He is not involved in other clubs or groups at school, explaining that “baseball takes up most of my time and I don’t think I would fit into or enjoy any other group.”
On the field, Smalley shines both as a first baseman and a pitcher, positions he takes very seriously. “The hardest part of being a first basemen [is] being the safety net for your infielders,” he says, knowing that “one bad throw that you let by could completely change the game.” As a pitcher, the challenge is “keeping a good mindset, even if something goes wrong,” staying calm and focused “to keep the game from spiraling out of control.”
One of his favorite memories came in the Nowata Tournament during his sophomore year, when he delivered a walk-off single in the championship game.
“I remember getting swarmed by my whole team and trying not to get tackled,” he recalls, a snapshot of pure joy that reflects the payoff of his dedication.
Away from competition, Smalley enjoys “hanging out with friends, either online or in person, and trying to better myself in any way, whether it’s working on baseball or just trying to be a better person.” Being an athlete, he says, has taught him that “you can learn from failure” and that “hard-work and dedication are very important when you want to achieve something, because you’ll never make it by being lazy and hoping that the opportunity will just be handed to you.”
