Bartlesville High School junior outfielder Liam Buchanan brings a quiet edge and a team-first mentality to the Bruins varsity baseball program, priding himself on defense, competition and representing the town where he grew up.
“What I love most about the team is how united we all are,” Buchanan said. “I’ve noticed in a lot of other teams there are kids who get left out, but that’s not the case here.” That sense of togetherness is what keeps him locked in through long practices and a crowded battle for playing time in the outfield.
Buchanan patrols the grass for Bartlesville, where he knows every inning is an audition. “I play outfield, and the toughest thing about playing that position is the competition,” he said. “There are a lot of kids on the team who play the outfield, and there are only three spots, so we all push each other to do better.”
He leans on his glove and instincts, calling his defense the strength of his game while acknowledging that his bat is still a work in progress.
“The strength of my game is my defense. There aren’t a lot of balls that get away from me in the outfield,” Buchanan said. “Something I need to work on is the offensive side. My base-running is good, but that doesn’t matter if I can’t hit.” That self-awareness feeds into his approach to growth, on and off the field. “The one who inspires me the most is myself. The idea of my own potential is enough to get me going,” he said.
Buchanan said athletics have given him lessons that will last beyond high school. “Something athletics have taught me that I’ll use later in life is that you should own up to your mistakes and not blame anyone else or make excuses,” he said. That accountability extends to the classroom, where he gravitated toward math even though school never came easy, and to his respect for teachers like Ms. Anderson, his favorite.
Representing Bartlesville carries extra meaning for Buchanan, who has lived in the community his whole life. “What makes representing Bartlesville special for me is that I’ve grown up here, so representing my hometown makes it even more special,” he said. Away from baseball, he wrestles, takes part in Tri-County Tech’s construction program and spends free time playing guitar, working out and building things.
Even in the dugout, Buchanan’s voice is hard to miss. “Most vocal teammate goes to me and Hayden Brown. Once we get going, we don’t stop,” he said with a laugh. He points to teammates like Pierce Hindman and Sterling Kroh for keeping the team loose, as the Bruins chase wins with the same unity that first drew him to the game.
