For Jasper High School senior Treyton Ritchhart, baseball is more than a game, it is a family legacy he is determined to carry forward.​

Ritchhart, a shortstop and pitcher for the Eagles, grew up watching his dad excel on the diamond, and that influence still drives him today. His father was an all-state baseball player who went on to play in college and scored the winning run in the 2001 state championship, a moment that left a lasting impression. “My dad inspires me,” Ritchhart said. “I realized he’s the guy who will always be there for me and knows the game very well, which makes me look up to him and want to follow in his footsteps.”​

On the field, Ritchhart embraces the responsibility that comes with playing two demanding positions. As a shortstop, he focuses on being vocal and setting the tone defensively. “The hardest thing about shortstop is to be the leader on the field and keep everyone in line,” he said. On the mound, his mindset shifts to complete control. “The hardest thing about pitching is to be in control of the game and set the tone and energy,” Ritchhart said.​

He loves the competitive edge of the sport and the bond with his teammates, many of whom he has known since childhood. “I love playing the game I love with all my friends and winning games,” he said. “I love how we show up to compete every game, no matter the situation, and that all the guys are my childhood friends I’ve grown up with and played with forever.”​

Away from baseball, Ritchhart enjoys hunting, fishing and working, and lists math with Mrs. Pashia as his favorite class. Athletics, he said, have taught him how to work with others, communicate, be resilient, lead and stay humble. And when it comes to facing a knuckleball once or twice a season, Ritchhart welcomes the challenge, confident he can “always put a great swing on it.”