Throughout the 2024-2025 Sage Creek boys baseball season, one athlete stood out from the rest. However, he prefers to stay out of the spotlight.

This season, Elijah Stephens, a hitter and pitcher for the Sage Creek Bobcats, had an outstanding season. But, one moment stole the show for players and fans alike: Elijah Stephens’ no-hitter performance.

On April 22, he pulled off the improbable against the Mission Hills Grizzlies, accomplishing not only a major goal for himself but one that he says wouldn’t be possible without his teammates.

“I credit them with a lot of my performance because there is only one of me and there are eight other guys I have to rely on,” Stephens said. Despite his accomplishments, he values his teammates above all else.

On and off the field, he is a leader for his team. His qualities of leadership, patience, focus and discipline are what make him such an elite athlete. 

While he might appear humble, he is focused and confident every single game. Pressure doesn’t exist for

him even in his biggest moments.

“I didn’t feel a heightened pressure,” Stephens said. “I just felt a heightened amount of confidence.”

This confidence is what allows him to show up every night for his teammates and what makes him a star. These skills aren’t built overnight, they are developed over years of dedication.

“I do a lot of rep work… Meditation things, I try to stay grounded and focused,” Stephens said.

Staying focused is key for Stephens as he prepares for his future. Fortunately, he seems to improve with every pitch he throws.

“I gained momentum toward the end of the season,” he said. “I’ll need to pitch better and be at my best.”

He isn’t just a star pitcher; he is an impressive hitter as well. He leads his team with nine home runs this season. To put that in perspective, the second player behind him, Sean Saiki, had two home runs this season.

Two home runs are impressive, which puts into perspective how dominant Stephens and his team were this season. For most teams, it is uncommon to have several players with multiple home runs.

Stephens also leads his team in six other major stat categories. These include batting average, on-base percentage and hits. However, his focus and dedication to his team are more important than his stats. Both players and coaches know that they can count on him.

For his teammate John Picchi, Elijah’s commitment doesn’t just show in games, it pushes his teammates to improve too.

“I can always count on him to hit a home run and also help me become a better player,” Picchi said.

Elijah Stephens is graduating from Sage Creek on June 5.

He plans on continuing his career in either basketball or baseball at the college level. His diverse skill set and ability to be an outgoing teammate will suit him well at the next level.

Until then, we will have to wait and see what other crazy performances Stephens has in store. But one thing is certain: he is proud of himself and his team.

“It’s never been done. I’m proud to do that for the school and represent everything we worked hard for,” Stephens said.