Midway through a 10-game Florida road trip in March, Anderson University first baseman Branton Sanders started feeling soreness in his left hip.
The Whiteland product soon found himself on the sidelines after being diagnosed with a strained flexor. Sanders was scheduled to make his return Wednesday when the Ravens hosted Butler.
Missing games could have caused the junior, owner of a scorching .435 batting average before his injury, to wallow in self-pity or isolate himself.
Sanders did the opposite.
“Branton is an extremely skilled baseball player, but what sets him apart is his character,” first-year Anderson baseball coach Mathew Bair said. “He’s someone who is truly a team guy who leads by example. Very mature and extremely wise for his age.”
Sanders’ first 13 games this season produced 20 hits, 12 runs scored and 19 driven in. He had seven multi-hit outings.
And though Sanders isn’t exactly sure what caused his injury, he knows it happened during Anderson’s 12-6 loss to Central on Feb. 11 — a game in which he drove in four of his team’s runs and delivered a home run.
“It stinks going down with an injury, but we have such good talent on our team. It’s good to see them step up,” Sanders said. “I believe everything happens for a reason. Maybe my body just needed a little bit of a break.”
Sanders used his time out of the Ravens’ lineup working with Anderson’s athletics trainers in an attempt to return as soon as possible. This included stretches, assorted exercises and having his hip iced.
Another priority was helping prepare his understudies at first base, sophomores Joseph Moran and Chuck Kidd, for game action in his absence.
In his college career, Sanders is hitting .335 and has been successful on 23 of his 27 stolen base attempts.
“Branton’s handled it like a true professional would,” Bair said. “He’s looked at the players who are replacing him and, in a sense, coaching them. He’s helping the team get better.”
Sanders, who majors in business management, said he thinks his generosity is rooted in how his parents, Adam and Lisa, raised him and his sister Chloe. The latter, a Whiteland senior, is an outstanding pole vaulter.
“I’m pretty humble,” Branton said. “I don’t brag on myself.”
No need, considering there are others willing to do it for him — whether Sanders is in the Ravens’ lineup or not.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="<strong>By the numbers</strong>" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
A season-by-season look at the baseball career of Anderson University junior Branton Sanders:
<strong>Year;Avg.;2B;RBI;SB</strong>
2016;.289;4;11;4
2017;.379;9;32;10
2018;.435;3;19;9
[sc:pullout-text-end]
