Senior center fielder and pitcher Jack Tiefenthaler has grown up with the Jenks Trojans, and he believes the tight bond inside the clubhouse is what sets this year’s varsity baseball team apart. The roster is filled with familiar faces, and for Tiefenthaler, that shared history shows up in every inning.
“What I love most is the chemistry we have, we’ve all known each other for at least four years now and some a lot longer than that and I feel like the chemistry we have is vital to the way we play and how we go about our business on and off the field,” Tiefenthaler said. That comfort level, he added, makes it easier to stay loose during big moments and hold each other accountable when the game tightens.
Tiefenthaler said his biggest growth at Jenks has come in the mental side of baseball. “I’ve improved my mentality for sure,” he said. “Working more on the way I play the game and what to know about the game and the best ways to play it, still learning all the time but the mental side of the game is the most important in my opinion.”
Leadership on this Trojans team looks different from player to player, but Tiefenthaler is quick to point out a few teammates who set the tone. “The most vocal is definitely Blake Whittington, he may not always be heard by everyone but he’s always working, one of the hardest workers I know,” he said. “Baron Miller is the one that keeps everyone laughing, he’s focused on the field but off the field he always keeps the whole locker room laughing.”
Baseball has also shaped how Tiefenthaler approaches life away from the diamond. “Baseball has taught me many life lessons possibly more than I can list off but one of the most important things to me is that even if there are roadblocks don’t let anything stop you from doing what you want to do, always keep working and learning every day doesn’t matter how tired you are or how much you don’t want to do something,” he said.
When he does find a rare break during the season, Tiefenthaler said he is usually watching a movie or a show. After graduation, he plans to continue his career. “I plan to play baseball at the next level in college, still deciding through options currently,” he said.
