As the end of the school year is near, many seniors are starting to prepare for their futures. For senior Michael Lee, this includes attending Panola College in Carthage, Texas, where Lee recently signed to be a part of their baseball team.

Since his freshman year, Lee has worked hard on and off the field. He says he works hard to be the best version of himself he can be and is truly honored to have received the offer to sign for the Panola baseball team. Lee plans on majoring in business at Panola College, while still working hard to achieve his goal of playing for the New York Yankees.

“[Being signed] made me feel like all my hard work had paid off,” Lee said. [I plan to] get a good degree and try to win a national championship. Playing professionally has always been my dream.”

Lee has become the player and person he is because of the inspiration his coaches instilled into him. He owes a lot to those who have helped him succeed in life.

“Jeremy Green, my hitting coach, [has] always taught me how to have a solid work ethic and [has] always believed in me and pushes me to chase my dream of playing professionally,” Lee said.

Just as Lee has those who have inspired him, he has been able to inspire his teammates to work hard and play even harder. As a third baseman and catcher, it has taken him much practice to get to the skill level that he is at now and never stops trying to improve.

“Michael is a persistent, hardworking, and enthusiastic person,” junior Bear Baseball player Jordan Alexander said. “He works really well with the team and is a great leader. He has been a huge part of the team for the past three years. From hitting to fielding, he has consistently been solid. I’d say some of his best qualities are his ability to play baseball consistently, fielding and hitting both. Baseball is a hard sport and to be consistent and dependable each game makes him a great player.”