Peyton Ballantyne '22 Recruiting Profile

When I was four my dad bought me this blue Rawlings glove that lit up every time you threw a ball into it.  The blinking light always kept my attention and increased my happiness to be on the field, win or lose, it didn’t matter, I was happy to be with my teammates, my family and my glove. Then in my first year of kid pitch baseball, my coach bet me an ice cream that I couldn’t hit the center of a 5”x5” box he taped to the back of a wall.  I hit it repeatedly while he couldn’t…  Never received my ice cream but instead started a love for the game of baseball.

Adversity has always been a part of my life.  I was born twelve weeks early, weighing just 2 pounds and 4 ounces.  I struggled to survive; struggled to get to developmental milestones; always forging ahead while many around me always discounted my abilities.  I never walked – I ran – leading my grandpa to nickname me Bullet Ballantyne.  My mom said no to the name change…  This same determination to succeed and prosper was with me through each baseball game from Little League to Travel Ball to High School and eventually College. 

I’ve had the opportunity to work with many great coaches and know that I wouldn’t be where I am today without their guidance.  I have always been a multi-sport athlete and am on my way to earning my second-degree black belt in Taekwondo.  Preparation and diligence have become a part of my daily life.  If I am not at baseball practice or a game, I am hitting off a tee, working out or training on a skill. I am an Honors student involved in the Leadership Team at my high school and am a Teen Leader in my community.  I don’t have a lot of extra time between sports and school, but in my off time I like learning about computers, cooking, volunteering or spending time with my family.  My family has always been my biggest supporters; they believe in me; and always remind me to believe in myself and my abilities. 

I plan to finish high school with an unweighted GPA of 4.0 and further my education in the field of business, sports management or communications.