BACONTON, Ga. (WALB) - A sophomore at Baconton Charter is making his mark both in the classroom and on the baseball field, carrying on a family tradition that started with Sunday games and a young boy’s dream to play like his father.

Daniel Cruz maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA while playing outfield and relief pitcher for the Blazers baseball team. His love for baseball developed from watching his father and grandfather play recreationally in a local league on Sundays. Cruz now plays the same positions his father once did.

A father’s influence

“It was really fun watching my dad play baseball when I was growing up. That kind of influenced me to get into the sports. It was exciting, kind of a flex, I guess. I just wanted to be like him and play to the best of my ability,” Cruz said.

When Cruz got to high school, he expected to spend his freshman year on the JV squad. Instead, he earned a spot on varsity and quickly found himself making an impact.

“I thought I was gonna ride the bench all year, but thankfully I got the opportunity to start on varsity. My first hit was in a scrimmage against Clinch County. I had a base hit up the middle, and it felt like I accomplished something big,” Cruz said.

Biggest supporter in the stands

From making varsity as a freshman to coming in as a relief pitcher, Cruz’s father has been there through it all.

“He was really excited for me. He’s actually the biggest [supporter] I got, and he influences me to try my best on everything from the get-go. He just pushes me to my limits and makes me do everything 100%,” Cruz said.

Goals beyond the field

When asked about his goals for the next two seasons, Cruz talked about being the kind of teammate younger players can look up to.

“I wanna be a role model to many because some people don’t got role models in their lives, and I just kind of want to be that person that people can talk to, you know?” Cruz said.

Cruz’s post-graduation plans consist of either playing baseball at the collegiate level or attending trade school to become a lineman.

Cruz is part of the reason the Blazers are moving on to Round 2 in the GHSA baseball playoffs. In Game 2 against Washington-Wilkes, he pitched four innings in relief and gave up just one run while striking out three. Baconton Charter will travel to Bowdon to face the Red Devils for Round 2.

Congratulations to Daniel Cruz for being recognized as this week’s Valdosta State Scholar Athlete!

If you know an outstanding student-athlete, click here to nominate them.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.