Here at Mike Gillespie Field, hard work and dedication don’t go unnoticed. For Team Captain Reid Farrell, that work has paid off, officially committing this season to play Division I baseball at Fresno State, and turning a lifelong passion into reality.
At College of the Canyons, Farrell’s journey has been fueled by more than just talent.
Baseball has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember, a passion that started at a young age and never faded.
“I started playing baseball early. I was probably like four years old, and I played all growing up, all the way through high school,” said Farrell.
That passion has translated into leadership.
As team captain, Farrell has become the steady presence his teammates rely on, someone who leads not just with his performance, but with consistency and energy.
“He sets the example, he’s always working hard in the weight room and BP in practice, he’s always diving all over the place,” said Joey Besemer, a teammate of Reid’s on the COC Baseball team.
“He’s running hard, and he’s always giving his 100%. When people see the leader doing that, they have to rise to the top and match his energy, so he’s always just giving it his all.”
For Reid, the path to Division I hasn’t been handed to him; it’s been built over time through discipline and devotion.
“Just grinding every single day, I mean, ever since high school, I’ve always been the guy that you want to overwork everybody, outwork everybody, and when you outwork everybody, it puts yourself in a position to succeed,” said Reid.
“Doesn’t mean that you’re always going to have success, I mean this game, as I said, you fail more than you succeed.
“But at least I felt like what allowed me to play at a good level was always preparing myself the best before I came here, hitting with my dad in the backyard every day.“
“Long nights out there and in the gym, and just grinding at COC with all the guys every day, allows you to go have fun and play stress-free. That’s where success comes from.”
As he prepares to take the next step at Fresno State, his impact on this program is already clear.
“If everyone played like Reid, we’d be undefeated. I mean, if we had nine Reids on the field, we’d win every game,” said Besemer.
The standard Reid built at College of the Canyons now becomes the foundation for what comes next on his journey.
