Depew’s Blake Stafford – Baseball Spotlight Presented By Cowboy Driving Academy

By Derrick Smith

Blake Stafford is a senior at Depew High School, where he is a multisport athlete. He mostly plays catcher for the baseball team, a sport he has played for almost thirteen years. He is also a member of the school’s football and powerlifting teams.

There are two people that Stafford says have helped him become the person and athlete that he is today. “My parents have been the biggest role models in my life,” he said. “They have taught me how to always be positive and to strive to be a great person. They’ve taught me 99% of the things I know about sports too. but most importantly they have always pushed me to be the best player and person I could possibly be.”

While in class at Depew, Blake says that his favorite teacher has taught him more than just the lessons in the textbook. “Coach Watts would have to be my favorite teacher,” he said. “He has taught me to keep a great attitude through everything, no matter if it is good or bad. He is pretty funny too so that’s also a plus.”

There have been a lot of things that have gone into Blake’s athletic success, but he says that there is one very important thing. “It has required hours upon hours upon hours of hard work,” he said. “Especially when no one is around. And that is not just for baseball, that is for all my sports.”

Blake recently won the eight-man powerlifting state title. He has also signed to play football at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas.