Pioneer Athlete Spotlight on Mason Oakley
School: Clayton Valley Charter High School • Grade: Senior • Sport: Baseball
Three-year varsity pitcher and Saint Mary’s College baseball commit Mason Oakley is looking forward to a projected late Spring limited high school season to provide some normalcy in a year full of firsts. Oakley began playing baseball when he was five-years-old on the Concord Patriots and Clayton Dirty Birds. Last summer, he played for the Zoots, an elite travel team comprised of Northern California’s top high school baseball players.
However, most of the tournaments Oakley intended to play in have (not surprisingly) been cancelled, or at the very least postponed to an enigmatic, nameless future date. The past 11 months created an unprecedented gap in his 12-year baseball career, reminding Oakley of how much he loves and misses the sport that has been a very significant part of his life for as long as he can remember.
As for remote learning, Oakley confesses that, like most of his peers, he finds that it is much more difficult to stay focused on school without working alongside peers and the motivation that comes from attendings senior events that his CVCHS Class of 2021 will most likely not experience.
Nonetheless, Oakley’s game is still benefiting from the silver lining of a more flexible schedule derived from remote learning. Although he has had limited contact with the Ugly Eagles baseball team, he is staying in shape by working out at home and training at a private pitching facility.
Coming back
Fortunately, many sports are beginning to fire up at Clayton Valley Charter after a hiatus that extended much longer than anyone anticipated. Clayton Valley’s first 2021 baseball game is tentatively scheduled at Deer Valley High on Mar. 19. Oakley feels very confident that the projected season won’t be postponed or cancelled (like the 2020 season was last spring), as he is anxious to get back on the field with his teammates of four years before heading off to Saint Mary’s after graduation.
Verbally committing in September 2019, Oakley describes SMC as the perfect community to continue both his athletic and academic career. He looks forward to working with SMC’s coaching staff and being close to home so his family can watch him play.
Oakley is an eight-semester honor roll student and plans on studying business economics. His career goal is to stand on the mound in the big leagues and eventually pitch in the World Series. Whatever comes this spring, Oakley emphasizes that he feels just as lucky as he would if he got a “normal” senior year. “I am happy I got to play baseball at Clayton Valley and have amazing coaches. I will forever be grateful.”
CVCHS student journalist Alexa Oldham wrote this Spotlight.
The Pioneer congratulates Mason and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for 25 years at Family Vision Care Optometry. www.laceyandruzicka.com
Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement or great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@concordpioneer.com.