For Creighton Thomas, baseball is a “lifestyle.” And that’s true whether or not he’s getting as much playing time as he wants.
“Through four years, I’ve always been behind somebody. I set goals on myself every year and try to achieve those. They’re personal goals. I strive to achieve those personal goals, not knowing whether they’ll help me get playing time or not,” Thomas says. “Whenever I do get playing time, I try to achieve those goals at the highest level.”
Thomas persevered despite his lack of playing time and has committed to play at Northwest Missouri State next season. Coach Howard Quigley says Thomas’s leadership skills have always been evident.
“He’s been a great role model. Creighton does an awesome job with his leadership,” Quigley says. “That’s probably one of the biggest things I’ve noticed from him is sharing things, whether it be in camps with younger players or his teammates, he’s been an awesome guy to watch in that respect.”
Thomas says Quigley’s emphasis on having a passion for the game has helped him through his four years as a player, even when he wasn’t getting the playing time he wanted. And Thomas says he does have a passion for baseball.
“I love the sport. I can’t get enough of it. I just fell in love with it,” he says.