Tompkins senior catcher Payton Suneja stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning with the game tied at 1-1 – locked in. It had been a tough defensive battle against District opponent Paetow with plenty of hits but no movement on the scoreboard since the second inning. He cleared his mind, ignored the pressure of the moment and released the distractions of the day.

And waited.

“When we're in a tough spot, I tell the team to focus and to just lock in on the game,” Suneja said. “You can study the game even more real time, and then you can produce off that. Baseball requires focusing on the little things. Focusing might seem like a little thing, but, in reality, it's probably 50 to 60 percent of the game.”

Suneja saw a pitch he liked and let it rip. The smack of the ball connecting with the bat and the feel of the follow through told him and his teammates all they needed to know. Seconds later the go-ahead homerun soared over right-center field, eventually winning the game for the Falcons. It was a defining moment for the senior catcher, but it wasn’t a surprise for him, or luck or even his natural talent.

Years of work, a lot of failure, tough love, faith and “trusting the process” culminated in his consistency and let him become a respected voice of reason for the Falcons. Suneja, a senior, recently signed for a baseball scholarship with Dallas College Richland but said he has some unfinished business at Tompkins before he hangs up his glove. He’s aiming for his second-consecutive First Team All-District 19-6A selection and a Tompkins playoff run. But more importantly, he wants to continue creating a welcoming space for incoming athletes to the program.

“Don’t leave the school saying I was the best guy,” Suneja said, recalling a conversation he had with a senior catcher he looked up to as a freshman. “Leave the school saying I was the nicest guy to all the underclassmen. I think that’s what stuck with me the most. That’s the kind of legacy I want to leave here.”

Mr. Nice Guy is all business behind the plate and in the batter’s box this season. He’s proven to be one of the best defensive catchers in the District while batting near .350.

“He's a kid that probably hasn't gotten the recognition that I think he deserves,” Tompkins head coach Kenneth Humphreys said. “He hits at the bottom of the order for us, but I will say that he's had a lot of big hits and came through in a lot of big situations. On defense he has energy, and he’s always focused on the next pitch. Everybody sees that, and I think it helps our pitching staff when they get in trouble, and it just kind of rubs off on all the other guys.”

Humphries said that while Suneja has always brought a positive attitude to the field and an incredible work ethic, he had to fight and claw to become the catcher that he is today. As a varsity contributor in

his junior year, his defensive performance began to slip. Coach Humphries turned to the bench for competition and even opened the possibility of sending Suneja to the JV squad for a stint.

“That was the tough love,” Suneja said. “But even though I was doing so bad, and I was clouded, I still pushed through it. I saw the success that could happen.”

Humphries said that Suneja handled the situation professionally. Instead of spiraling out of control, which can happen in baseball because success is not guaranteed, he persevered, and by the end of the season he used that fuel to become the starting catcher with a first team all-district nod.

Suneja is an exceptional student, taking dual credit courses while working part-time in the fast-food industry and practicing 2-3 hours a day for baseball. He’s had to develop excellent time management skills and become a master scheduler. He credited assistant coach Ben Young for being there for him, not only for baseball but as he went through a rough personal time. The coach kept him aligned with his values and on track at school.

“Coach Young truly stuck with me,” Suneja said. “I look up to him as a role model in a lot of ways, and I think he's probably one of the biggest reasons I've kept going.”

Suneja eats, sleeps and dreams baseball. He wants to play as long as possible and at the highest level he can reach and will use that opportunity to study physical therapy in college. He said he’s grateful for the support he’s received from his coaches, family and teammates to pursue his dream.