By Thomas Sellers Jr.
it takes a few years for parents to identify their child’s special abilities.
But for Heath and Cindy Bryant, one of the callings for their son Colton almost hit them in the face.
“We knew when he was about 2 years old because he was always throwing balls,” Cindy recalled. “If he was awake he was throwing some type of ball around the house. We knew then it was one of his gifts.”
Time, hard work, good coaching and investing in that gift led to Dec. 3 in the Brighton Gymnasium Lobby. The Cardinal Baseball senior, Bryant signed his national letter of intent to play baseball at Freed-Hardeman University.
“He’s grown into a fine young man and I am proud of him,” Heath said. “Spiritually as well as physically, he’s pursued those things and I think it will fit him well there at Freed-Hardeman. He will enjoy the environment.
”Colton said joining Lions Head Coach Jonathan Estes’ program was a natural fit for him. “It feels good because I’ve always wanted to play college ball,” he said. “I am excited to go off and play. It is a good place. It’s a good Christian place. That’s another reason why I picked it.”
Brighton Head Coach Ryan Wood said the Cardinal staff has invested time in Bryant because he’s a high-level pitcher and solid bat in the middle of the lineup. Bryant’s clutch hitting in 2021 helped the Cardinals reach the State Baseball Tournament for the first time in school history.
“He’s very coachable,” Wood noted. “He’s a great human being. His work ethic and performing well at quite a few showcases. He had a visit with Freed this fall and Coach Estes liked what he saw. The kid just works really hard. He’s work ethic has put him in the position he’s in.”
Cindy said once Colton identified his own gift, he put his heart into the game. “He has been very consistent in practicing and working hard,” she noted. “He started playing when he was 4 years old. He grew up in Brighton and started playing in Brighton Parks and Recreation.
”Heath said once the family got Colton rolling, it was time to trust the team at Brighton with baseball minds like Brian Oswalt. “We tried to keep him in the right direction,” he recalled. “He really has developed here in the past two years. I really want to thank Coach Oswalt and Coach Wood and all the other coaches who have been involved to help him get to this point. He has the opportunity to work. He’s had a good place here to workout. He’s stayed down there and gotten after it.
”All the Cardinals invested the time over the past few years to transform the program into a Class 3A contender. Then the crew last season finally got over the hump.
“We had really good leaders last year,” Colton noted. “But now that they’ve gone, I have to step up and be a better leader and be more vocal I guess.
“It was so cool to be the first team to be able to do it for Brighton,” he continued. “It was so cool seeing those seniors enjoy and see them be able to do it.
”Colton wants to relive that feeling in 2022 and knows he has to be more of a leader alongside his four fellow seniors. But Coach Wood said he wants the senior signee to just improve at what he already does best. “Colton is not the most vocal leader,” he noted. “He’s a more lead by example guy. It just depends on each guy taking on his role and playing to his strengths. I just need him to be the best he is at what he does well already. I need him to continue getting better by 1 percent every day.
”But maybe father knows best. Heath said another gift deep down inside his son is being an all-around leader. “I think he has the ability to be that leader,” he concluded. “He needs to go find it inside. I think that switch needs to turn in his head to where he can do it for himself. He has to be the one to want to do it. I think he has the ability.”
