By Ken Hansard
Baxter Springs’ Payton Gaines is a senior pitcher and shortstop for the Lions who has some very simple but clear and concise goals for the near future, “I want to win Sub State in my last year of baseball.”
Advancing to state would be particularly rewarding for Gaines this season, not only because it is his last time in a Lion uniform, but even more so because of the legacy he will be leaving behind. “My Coach (Cord Baldwin) defines my role as being someone who will always strive for greatness in an effort to help every player on the team to improve.” He further says that his main goal is, “Trying to be the best role model for my baseball team. There are a lot of freshmen. We are really young, and they all look up to me. They will be a completely different team when they are seniors.”
Gaines, a quarterback on the gridiron who helped lead the Lions to the playoffs for the first time in years, also stars in basketball and track for Baxter Springs. Payton hopes to extend his senior year just a bit longer, and has his sights set on making the state championships in the high jump this spring after winning league (CNC) in the same event.
Gaines, who was also a Student Council member and student leader for the Lions, has designs to attend Coffeyville Community College in the fall where he plans to play football while working towards his Associates’ Degree.
