With the return of baseball season at Brandon High School, BHS remembers the tragic loss of Brandon student Nathan Griffith in 2021. Although Nathan is no longer with us, his presence is still evident on the field. This year, Nelson Haas was honored to receive Nate’s jersey number as Nate was frequently around in Nelson’s life. They spent time together hunting, fishing, and playing on the baseball field. When asked about Nate’s impact on the team, Nelson said he was “kind of like a light on the field.” The loss our baseball team faced brought them together, “everybody on the team had each other’s back.” Nelson recognizes the honor of representing Nate and his family with his jersey number. “I feel like it gives a leadership role,” he shared. Nelson hopes the team will carry on Nate’s memory and his number for years to come. He tells his teammates, following in Nate’s footsteps, not to take it for granted and try to better themselves daily. Haas knows that God is there with them through every up or down they face on the baseball field. As Nelson plays with Nathan’s number, he is not only wearing a jersey but leading his teammates further along the path Nate showed him.