Catoosa’s Michael “Wyatt” Baker

For Catoosa High School’s Michael “Wyatt” Baker, baseball is about more than box scores and stat lines. It is about a tight-knit group of teammates who, as he puts it, always have each other’s backs no matter the situation.​

Baker, a varsity pitcher and first baseman for the Indians, embraces two of the game’s most demanding positions. He understands the spotlight and pressure that come with being at the center of the action. “It involves both physical and mental demands including being the game’s main focal point,” Baker said.​

He credits Catoosa head coach John Miller for helping shape him on and off the field. Baker said Miller is always there to help, pushing him not only to become a better player, but also a better man.​

In the classroom, Baker gravitates toward science, and he said picking just one favorite teacher is impossible. He lists Marcie Wenzel and Kelsey Barbee as educators who have made a meaningful impact on his high school experience.​

One of Baker’s favorite memories did not come in a Catoosa uniform but with his OG Oklahoma Chaos travel team in a World Series championship game. He recalls his mom yelling, “Don’t suck,” a phrase that has become something of a family tradition. She still writes it on his cleats every year as a reminder to compete hard and have fun.​

Baker stays busy beyond varsity baseball. He plays for Brewers Showcase Baseball and is involved in FFA, National Honor Society and the Catoosa Junior Chamber, balancing a full schedule of athletics, academics and leadership.​

When he does find free time, Baker enjoys hunting, working on the ranch with his dad and spending time with friends and family. Those moments away from the field, he said, help keep him grounded.​

He describes himself as a high-spirited presence in the dugout, no matter the score, and prides himself on using his long legs to stretch and make plays at first base. Baker said athletics have taught him discipline and a strong work ethic, lessons he plans to carry with him long after his days at Catoosa are over.​

Around him, voices like senior Ryder Stidham, whom Baker calls the team’s most vocal leader, and sophomore Timmy White, who “always has us laughing,” help make Catoosa baseball feel like a second family.