SOLON — Brett White’s earliest memories surround a ball diamond.
The son of state champion high school coaches led to him growing up around the Solon fields — literally. Little did he know it would serve as the building blocks for making him one of the state’s top baseball players.
“Ever since I was born, basically,” White said. “My playpen at the softball field. I grew up around the game all my life. I think that has helped me grow and learn the game.”
White has excelled in multiple sports but baseball was the first, starting for the program before he even took a high school class. The all-state performer and Baylor signee has returned for his final season with the Spartans, hoping to help lead them to the Class 3A state tournament.
Time has flown by for White, who recalled looking up to seniors like Luke Ira and Cam Miller. He has assumed that role for future Spartans.
“The crazy part is I watched all the players graduate that I knew when I was younger,” White said. “I always loved watching them play. I’m here now in this position where I am going to graduate and play at the next level. It’s crazy to see my dreams become reality in that sense.”
Coach Keith McSweeney knew what the Spartans were getting when White stepped into the program. He noted that while younger kids played video games, White was at the field, becoming exposed to the preparation and work ethic of accomplished athletes.
“He’s a competitor,” McSweeney said. “Being a multi-sport athlete, too, he’s competing year-round. He’s strong and has been strong since he came in as an eighth-grader.
“I think the combination of all those things makes for a pretty special high school athlete.”
Even though he has been a standout as an all-state linebacker and in track, baseball was always his first love. He had a natural attraction and understood all the intricacies, watching the game anytime he could.
“I was hitting in the open gyms during winter before school every morning when I was 6, 7, 8 (years old),” said White, whose mom, Erin, played in the Olympics for the Canadian National Softball team. “It was just every day. Our saying was to have more swings than anyone else. I think that helped propel me forward, getting myself better every day.”
By the time White joined the Solon varsity lineup, he was already used to playing with older players. He competed in older divisions from the beginning. He wasn’t fazed and earned second-team all-Wamac Conference honors. White followed that with second-team all-state recognition as a freshman, first-team all-state as a sophom*ore and was named to the All-State Super Team by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association a year ago.
“Some athletes box themselves in with what they think their ceiling is,” McSweeney said. “He’s been exposed to high-level baseball since he was younger.
“He set his sights higher than achieving at the high school level. It wasn’t as if he was satisfied, going 4-for-4 in a high school game. He’s thinking ‘I’m facing 92 this weekend in the spring and that’s really the ultimate measuring stick.’ Having somebody who sees the ceiling keep being raised, that is going to drive him to improve and never be complacent.”
White made an impression from Day 1. He was serious when he stepped onto the field.
“I love a challenge,” White said. “That’s something I have my mind set on. After the first day of practice, I wasn’t really scared.”
Confidence and his mental approach have steadily improved from that first varsity season. It resulted in gaudy numbers last season. He displayed a mix of power and speed, tying for third in 3A with seven home runs and was third with 37 stolen bases. He was third in hits, doubles and on-base percentage. His 98 total bases led 3A, while coming in second with 61 runs, just one back of teammate Blake Timmons.
White has demonstrated his agility and quickness at the hot corner, which is what Baylor wants him to keep developing. Defense from the 6-foot, 210-pounder still amazes McSweeney.
“Offensively, he’s so strong and he has power,” McSweeney said. “For me, the moments that stick out is what he does defensively. Just being able to get to baseballs that other kids can’t get, making a difficult play at third base. Usually what happens when he’s playing third and charging on a slow-roller play. You think that’s an infield hit. No way. He gets in and out pretty quick. That’s when you realize he’s going to be really special.”
McSweeney has seen another side of White. He mentioned White’s demeanor, personality and academic success make him a well-rounded individual.
“He’s a very good student and takes school very seriously,” McSweeney said. “Being a kid that’s always on the ball fields, he bucks that stereotype. I think people would be surprised to learn he’s very humble.
“You see a kid come in and he’s 210 pounds who swings with power and fields with great agility, you realize that he does the key is being humble. He likes to have fun.”
White could have been a massive hole to fill this season. Baylor’s other freshmen will report in July. White opted to stay and finish the season and may play with the Clinton LumberKings, which is now a collegiate summer league team.
“The reason I stayed is because of how much the high school game and the state has given to me,” White said. “Starting as an eighth-grader was a great opportunity. Not many others get that. Bigger classes really don’t get to play as an eighth-grader. I’d be doing the game wrong if I didn’t play my high school season.”
Baylor assistant coaches Zach Dillon and Brian Furlong have Iowa ties and understood the summer schedule unique to the state. White plans to take online classes during the summer as well.
“I think that’s just him appreciating the leadership,” McSweeney said. “For him wanting to come back and play for his friends and coaches, to some degree, I think he feels he has some unfinished business at the high school level. Getting to the state tournament and making some noise there.
“All those things combined for him to come back. We’re very fortunate.”
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All that is left is to try and get Solon back to the state tournament for the first time since 2018. White measures success by games won and is determined to help the Spartans advance as far as possible in the postseason. He wants to add to the legacy that has been a special part of his life.
“I feel like I haven’t done enough, honestly,” White said. “It means a ton to me. I really haven’t won enough to be considered a great Spartan, to my standard. It’s awesome to play for them and to be known as someone from Solon.”
Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com
