It’s five in the morning. Most kids are fast asleep, dreaming of their upcoming day; what they will wear, eat for breakfast, or do after school.
In one particular yard, however, piercing the silence of the early sunrise, you can hear the crack of an Easton bat connecting with baseballs as they are sent flying from a tee in a batting cage.
While others are sleeping, Logan Goff is progressing.
“I love this game,” Logan said. “I’m always looking for ways to improve. My goal is always to push myself to be better than the next player.”
An eighth-grader at Lee County Middle School (West Campus), Logan is a perfect example of hard work and dedication in action. He’s currently in his second season playing baseball for the Trojans, and his success comes in humbled silence. For the 2014 season, Logan was one of only four seventh-graders selected to the team.
“Not many do that,” he said. “It meant a lot to me because it let me know that my hard work was being noticed.”
His head coach, Barrett Powell, does not hesitate to verify Logan’s thoughts.
“Logan is extremely dependable,” Coach Powell said. “His commitment, his dedication…he’s a team player. He is constantly working to get better, and he always wants to see his team get better as well.”
Logan spends time at pitcher and catcher during the season. He takes pride in playing both, but the latter gives him a higher satisfaction.
“When you’re playing catcher, you have a lot more responsibility,” Logan said. “It’s pretty much like you’re a captain. You have to make a lot of calls and pay 
really close attention to what’s happening.”
The position fits him well, as Logan has established himself as a leader that always puts his team first.
“During practice, I don’t talk a lot,” he said. “I just get to work…I do what I need to do.”
His focus is apparent to everyone. According to his mother, Crystal, his game face is rather intimidating. Typically a very high-spirited, cheerful person, Logan is known to unleash an “alter-ego,” if you will, when the time is right.
“Once the game starts, (Logan) just goes into a ‘zone’,” she said. “We’ve had other parents ask us if he’s happy, or if he ever smiles, because he gets so focused when it’s game time. It just goes to show how much he is dedicated to what he does. He lets his actions speak for him.“
Logan’s father, Eddie, echoes the same sentiment.
“(Logan) has such a strong drive when it comes to the game,” he said. “He is constantly wanting to improve, and he’s always willing to put in the work to get there.”
Success is always at the forefront when it comes to sports. Often taking a backseat is the hard work that goes into finding that success. In Logan’s eyes, success is not promised. And he is willing to work hard to make his name in Trojan history, 24 hours a day.
About Logan:
Grade: 8th
Parents: Eddie & Crystal Goff
Siblings: One older brother (Tyler)
Hobbies: Fishing, hunting
Playing baseball since: Age eight
Glove: Mizuno (when playing catcher); Rawlings (when fielding)
Cleats: New Balance
South Georgia/March 2015
Rising Star
Logan Goff
Lee County Middle School (West Campus)
By: James Washington
Photography by: Sarah Turner
