BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

Swing for the fences

By Maddux El-Hakam, age 17 | July 27, 2024

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BATTER UP Rising senior Maddux El-Hakam plays baseball at St. Francis Episcopal School, where the team recently made the playoffs for the first time in school history. He fondly remembers his time playing on the BLL 9U-12U District Teams. (Photo: ZvisionnMedia)

I have always loved the game of baseball. One of my earliest memories is when I watched my older brother play tee-ball. All I wanted was to be on that field. It wasn’t long before I was. I joined my first team when I was three years old, and I have been playing baseball ever since. I joined Bellaire Little League when I was four and played all the way through, until I was 12. One of my favorite memories is from when I played as catcher in the machine pitch division, where runners hardly ever get thrown out. I hadn’t thrown a runner out all season. But that night, in the championship game, I threw out two runners. After the season ends, there is always an All-Star game for each age group. I’ll never forget how, three years in a row (ages 10, 11, and 12), I hit a home run in every All-Star game.

I've just completed my junior year at St. Francis Episcopal School. I had a great baseball season, and I was honored to be named to the TAPPS All State First Team. I am thankful to be part of this school and team. We made it to the playoffs for the first time in school history and won our first playoff game. One of this season’s most memorable games happened during spring break week. I had just had a rough game, but the next day we played again. I needed to bounce back – and I did. I hit a two-run homer in my first at bat and then hit two more home runs, finishing the game with three home runs and six RBIS. It was the best game I’ve ever played. It was a great night.

I'm thankful for the guidance of my whole family, on and off the field, but especially my dad. He instilled a love for baseball (especially the Astros!) in me, and he has taken me to so many games throughout my life. I plan to play in college and hope to play in the MLB one day. I know if that happens, it's because of the support of my parents and grandparents.

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