By Ken Hansard
Aden Leftwich plans to embrace every moment of his senior season with the Lansing Lions, bringing leadership, resilience, and a team-first mindset to the baseball diamond. Competing in the United Kansas Conference, Leftwich serves as the team’s catcher, a role that perfectly suits his vocal presence and ability to guide those around him. “This season for me is all about having fun with the guys I’ve known my entire life,” Leftwich said. “Knowing I’m going to play football in college, I just want to enjoy every moment I have left in high school, and I want to make each one count.” That perspective has helped Aden to become more than just a player. Leftwich relishes his role as a leader and a source of support. “A lot of the guys look up to me, not only as a leader, but also as a brother. I try to help my teammates through anything that comes along, and my end goal is to build that family connection.”
Leftwich’s journey in baseball hasn’t come without adversity. In his first varsity start last season, he suffered a torn hamstring in his first at-bat. Determined to prove himself, he returned with a statement performance, going 4-for-4 in his first game and then extending a hitting streak across his next seven at-bats. He finished the year with a .375 batting average and earned All-UKC Honorable-Mention honors.
Now, with Lansing off to a 4-2 start, Leftwich has his sights set on a bigger goal. “Going into this season, I had one goal in mind—make it to state. No matter what it takes, I’m going to get my team there,” he said. He understands the challenge ahead of the Lions, who play in a highly competitive conference, but even so, he welcomes it. “All I’m focused on is the next game – the next opponent.”
A multi-sport standout, Leftwich has also earned All-UKC First-Team honors in football, First-Team All-State as an athlete, and is a two-time state champion in powerlifting. Following graduation, Aden will continue his football career at Baker University while pursuing studies on the pre-med track, with aspirations of one day working in emergency medicine.
