P1FCU Prep Athlete of the Week: Cody Ray, Lewiston Baseball
LEWISTON, ID- “Just the comradery with all the guys," said Lewiston Baseball shortstop Cody Ray. "They’re all really fun to talk to, and they've welcomed me pretty well.”
“The team is great, just getting me in with the team pretty fast. I feel like home.”
Cody Ray quickly found a new home and team with the Lewiston Bengals. He's immersed himself into the starting lineup as their shortstop.
“I’ve always been like shorter and quicker, so middle infield has kind of always been my spot. It's where I usually played growing up."
Ray and the rest of the Bengal defense, played a key role in beating the Moscow Bears 5-0 in the first game of their doubleheader.
“I think knowing from past games, what we need to do to get the score where we want it, and helping our pitcher out the best we can is what we focus on the most," Ray said.
“They did great, they just kept on pounding the zone, and letting the defense work.”
In the batters box, the junior was hit by a pitch in one of his at bats, but that doesn't phase him, nor does it change his approach at the plate.
"I like to hunt first pitch, first fastball, and reach and adjust breaking pitches if they come," Ray said.
When each player heads to the plate, they have a walk up song. Every home game, the Bengals like to come up with a new theme.
“My walk up song is 17, and our theme song was classic rock and I picked one that I liked the most and went it," Ray said.
Ray says the teams end goal is to make it to State, but not without his new coaches and their help along the way.
“I feel like they’ve gotten me into a better mentality with more grit," Ray said. "I play harder than I used to. I feel like they’ve given me something more to play for, playing for my teammates and my coaches."
