The Shadow
Alleghany Mountaineer catcher Chris Harden rarely comes out of a game.
Apparently, the strategy works as the Mountaineers are 16-2, ranked no. 1, and Harden is as big a contributor as any player on the roster.
Also an Alleghany basketball player, Harden has been playing baseball and basketball since he was just a toddler. He got into travel ball at age eight with baseball and has been soaking up the sport ever since.
He is now a junior with one goal in mind over these last couple weeks of the season: win a state championship.
The Mountaineers have about as good of a chance to hoist a trophy this year as any and have been storming through the competition. They have only been challenged in a handful of games, but typically take the field, dominate, and go home winners.
Harden is extremely proud of the way the season has gone.
“It’s been very special,” Harden said.
Not many teams of our caliber come through Alleghany,” he added.
If the Mountaineers are able to sneak into the regionals, that is where their toughest tests will arise according to the everyday catcher.
“Absolutely,” Harden said when asked if his team could win it. “, I think our toughest games are going to come in the region tournament with teams like Chatham, Appomattox and Patrick County,” he stated.
Catching every day and rarely coming out of a game can be tough, but Harden makes sure he does a couple of habits to make sure he is able to handle the workload.
“Honestly just fluids and sleep,” he said.
His family stays supportive of his play as well, which makes it easier for the junior to perform on and off the field the way he is expected.
“They are the reason I am in sports. I grew up playing a lot of travel over the summer whether it be basketball or baseball, but they supported me in everything,” Harden explained.
Harden never takes a day or game for granted, especially since some of his teammates missed out on a whole year just a couple years ago, and with the consolidation right around the corner, his confidence in the situation is easy to see.
“It means a lot since my teammates lost their seasons when I was in eighth grade and had a shortened season my freshman year. It is a great move for our area and it’s only going to make the sports teams in general a lot better, if it would’ve happened sooner, we would have many state titles,” Harden stated confidently.
If, by some chance the Mountaineers do not win the state championship this season, Harden will have another chance next year when he comes back as a senior, but there are other things of importance to him as well like his current baseball coach also getting to coach him on the hardwood.
“Grades and Basketball,” Harden said quickly.
“Freshman year was really tough for me with COVID, and school and my grades weren’t great. I am super excited for basketball next year with consolidation and Coach Bradley getting the job,” he finished.
