Baseball can be a grueling sport, but Braydn O’Neal is having fun this summer.

The North Callaway graduate and Columbia College player is with the Sedalia Steamers, who compete in the inaugural summer collegiate Diamond Baseball League. O’Neal has contributed to Sedalia’s rise to first place, as of the six-team standings on July 20, before he begins his junior season at Columbia College.

There have been many new faces with O’Neal’s new team. Still, there has been some familiarity as O’Neal has had seven of his Columbia College teammates and associate head baseball coach and Sedalia Steamers manager Craig “Boomer” McAndrews.

“Every year, we have exit meetings with the coaches,” O’Neal said. “Boomer, who is the head coach for the Steamers this year, asked me if I would be interested in playing summer ball with him. I felt like it was a great opportunity to keep playing baseball over the summer.”

O’Neal said it has helped to have that Columbia College bond in Sedalia, including Hallsville’s Colton Nichols, Eldon’s Hunter Hees and Fulton’s Miles Bethell. He has forged meaningful bonds with the new faces, too.

Diesel Purnell is an infielder for the Steamers who owns a 1.037 OPS in 92 at bats, as of July 20. Purnell has also given O’Neal valuable advice.

“I always took lifting seriously, but Diesel has pushed me a lot more in the weight room,” O’Neal said. “Also with being more healthy, like eating habits and taking care of my body. Everyday we’ll go lift, and after we lift, we’ll go to the pool, sit in a hot tub and then sit in a cold tub and back in the hot tub.”

O’Neal said they have a routine everyday to eat good meals, and his health has improved much more over this summer. He said this helps with baseball, especially, which demands athletes to play almost everyday.

“Playing this summer in Sedalia has been amazing for me and everybody else,” O’Neal said. “Learning baseball through another perspective through other guys is really special and helps my game a lot.”

His time in Sedalia has paid off on the field. O’Neal owns a .271 batting average and a .419 on base percentage in 59 at bats, as of July 20. He has also had special moments like hitting a two-run homer on Father’s Day in a 6-0 win over the Grand Island Fightin’ Cranes with his father and North Callaway football head coach Kevin O’Neal in attendance in Nebraska.

“I had hit my first home run (with Columbia College) this spring, but that one felt really special,” O’Neal said. “I was struggling a little bit before all that. The week before, I hit with my dad a couple times, and we tweaked some things. Hitting that home run, rounding first base and hearing him yell, ‘Heck yeah’ felt really good.”

Four days prior in a home game against the Jefferson City Renegades, O’Neal hit a walk-off single for a 3-2 victory in the 10th inning. That situation was different because O’Neal was a late defensive substitution when his spot in the order came up.

“Boomer talked to me, settled me down and said ‘Go do you,’” O’Neal said. “I stepped in that box, saw that pitch I wanted and it played out well.”

O’Neal said he has gained more confidence on the field this summer and is confident that will translate to another stellar spring season at Columbia College. The Cougars finished with yet another 30-win season in a year O’Neal started 16 games and posted a perfect fielding percentage in the outfield. 

McAndrews and Mexico native Darren Munns are wise baseball coaches and teachers of life lessons with Columbia College, O’Neal said. 

“The mental side of baseball is a big thing where they helped me,” O’Neal said. “I’m hard on myself, but this summer, I have learned that the sun is going to come up tomorrow no matter what I do. I could go 4-for-4 or 0-for-4. No matter what happens, I’ve got to show up and play a game.”

O’Neal said he has needed to “enjoy the moment” and has been doing that with the Steamers. This is key to “get through the tough times in baseball,” which O’Neal also credits his younger and all-state brother, Coltyn, for helping him do. The Steamers have games until the end of July before the leaders of each division face each other in a three-game series for first place.

“We need to continue to keep good morale in the dugout for sure,” O’Neal said. “Some guys are coming close to 80 games this year from spring to summer, so it can get a little old. Keep the game fun and enjoy the moment while we’re there.”