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Oct 16, 2023

Glenn slugger Nathan Ball dabbles in many businesses, but hitting is Job 1

John Glenn’s Nathan Ball (2) smiles after scoring a run during day one of the

John Glenn's Nathan Ball (2) smiles after scoring a run during day one of the Bay County Baseball Championship on Friday, April 14, 2023. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

BANGOR TOWNSHIP, MI – Nathan Ball is relentlessly hitting balls, fielding pop-ups and throwing missiles.

When he's not splitting wood, cleaning cars and washing windows.

The John Glenn senior is a baseball player through and through. But not by trade.

By the age of 15, Ball was already an entrepreneur. And the work ethic that has made him a hard-hitting ballplayer has also made him a fast-rising businessman.

"It's pretty amazing for a high school kid to have that much motivation," Glenn coach Jeff Hartt said. "He's just a worker, and he's going to go far in whatever he decides to do."

After helping the Bobcats claim a district championship, Ball was voted MLive Bay City Athlete of the Week. He garnered 51.1 percent of the 9,802 ballots cast, winning a duel with Reese shot putter Abby Karst, who came in second at 39.9 percent in the 10-payer poll.

Ball and the No. 5-ranked Bobcats venture to Petoskey on Saturday to face defending state champion Forest Hills Eastern in the 12:30 p.m. regional title game. The winner plays immediately after in the state quarterfinal against either Spring Lake or Petoskey.

Glenn (36-5) is banking on big things from Ball, a three-year fixture at the heart of the batting order and a top defensive performer in right field. He's come through many times before. A second-team All-Stater as a junior, he delivered clutch hit after clutch hit while leading the Bobcats to a regional title a year ago – including the iconic, two-run, walk-off double to beat Essexville Garber in the district final.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound left-hander batted .375 this year during the regular season with three home runs and 33 RBIs. He also swiped 15 bases. How the Northwood University signee became a next-level player is no secret.

John Glenn's Nathan Ball (2) rounds second base after stealing second base during a game between Frankenmuth and John Glenn on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at Frankenmuth middle school. Brice Tucker | [email protected]

"He has a tremendous work ethic," Hartt said. "Between lifting, hitting, throwing, running, he's constantly trying to make himself a better baseball player. He just doesn't quit working at it."

Work is certainly a key work in Ball's vocabulary. He went door-to-door with flyers at age 15, offering his lawn mowing services. A year later, he owned a zero-turn mower and a trailer and was working with 55 customers.

He soon started bundling firewood for sale near State Park, selling second-use golf balls and working in snow removal. This year he opened two businesses, Top Tier Window Cleaning and Nate's Detailing.

But that doesn't suggest he has no time for baseball.

A two-time MLive Bay City Dream Teamer, he came up big for the Bobcats in the district tournament. He raked two key hits in a 7-1 win over Shepherd in the semifinal then helped turn the tide in a 3-1 win over Freeland in the title game, lacing an RBI single.

"He hits the ball so hard and so far," Hartt said. "He just smokes it.

"And he doesn't have a weakness up there. He hits fastballs, curves, he hits to the whole field… For someone that big, you’d expect him to be a pull hitter, but he sprays it around."

Ball was penciled in as a corner infielder who would handle some catching and pitching duties when he arrived on the varsity scene as a sophomore. But he found his niche in the outfield.

"We were struggling a bit out there and he said ‘Coach, I can play outfield.’ So I hit him some fly balls to check him out," Hartt said. "We haven't taken him out since.

"He's probably the best right fielder we’ve ever had. He covers a lot of ground and he's got a hose for an arm – and he's worked hard to develop that arm."

Working has never been a problem, it seems, for Ball.

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