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Against the odds: Owen Knight defies limitations, signs to play baseball at East Central College
EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Life threw curveballs at Owen Knight, but he never flinched. Instead, he used them as fuel, turning adversity into advantage and overcoming obstacles that could have sidelined his dreams.
Now, he’s ready to write a new chapter in his remarkable story, taking his talents and iron will to East Central College.
“I’ve learned over the years that challenges won’t just go away,” Knight said. “But I can do anything I put my mind to. East Central provides the resources to help me succeed both on the field and in the classroom.”
Growing up, Knight was the kid who lived and breathed sports. From the time he could walk, he was chasing balls, swinging bats, and dreaming of the big leagues. He tackled schoolwork with the same relentless energy, striving to excel in the classroom as well as on the field. But as the years went by, a nagging sense of frustration began to creep in.
“I always tried my best,” Knight said. “I paid attention, listened to the teachers and worked on my skills, but when it came to reading, it was like trying to decipher a foreign language.”
Spelling tests became a source of anxiety, with seemingly simple words morphing into impossible puzzles. Reading comprehension felt like an uphill battle, even when the subject was his beloved sports.
“I hated to read,” Knight said. “I would re-read the same sentence a million times, and still not understand it. My handwriting was a mess, too.”
His struggles weren’t for lack of trying. He spent countless hours poring over textbooks, drilling vocabulary words, and practicing his penmanship. But the results never seemed to match his effort.
It wasn’t until a chance encounter with a reading specialist that Knight’s academic struggles began to make sense. A screening revealed that he had dyslexia, a learning disorder that affects reading and language-based processing skills.
“It was actually a relief,” Knight said. “I knew I was trying my hardest but something just wasn’t right.”
Sixth grade marked the next step in Knight’s life.
Alongside football, basketball, and baseball practices, he added tutoring sessions to his already jam-packed schedule, learning strategies to navigate dyslexia, discovering new ways to process information and overcoming the challenges that had once held him back.
"It was a lot, but I enjoyed it,” he said. “I was learning how to make things easier for myself. Putting in extra work is something very common for any student-athlete. Managing time, practice, competition, and academics can be overwhelming for some but for me that’s all I know.”
The tutoring sessions and newfound strategies began to pay off. Knight found his academic footing, proving that with the right tools, he could excel in the classroom as well as on the field.
But fate wasn’t done testing his resolve. As high school approached, a new obstacle emerged, one that threatened to knock his baseball aspirations right out of the park.
The diamond had always been Knight’s sanctuary, but in his freshman season, it turned into a battleground.
“I couldn’t seem to hit the ball,” he said. “I was missing easy fly balls. I spent hours hours working on my mechanics but nothing seemed to work.
It wasn’t until a visit to the eye doctor that the root of the problem was revealed: convergence insufficiency, a condition where the eyes struggle to work together, making it difficult to judge distances and track moving objects.
“I completed vision therapy in St. Louis that summer,” Knight said. “Between travel tournaments, I’d be in my hotel room, doing eye exercises like a madman. But it paid off. The next season, I was hitting like I’d never hit before. Even now, if my timing gets off, I know exactly how to get myself back on track.”
The challenges Knight faced were not setbacks; they were growth opportunities. Each obstacle he conquered, whether in the classroom or on the field, strengthened his resolve and solidified his belief in himself. The vision therapy, with its demands for patience and perseverance, was simply another test to pass, another chance to prove that he could overcome anything life threw his way.
“Sophomore year was a great confidence boost for me,” Knight said. “It was great to see all my hard work pay off. I was able to help my teammates in more areas than just my pitching. I became a better outfielder because I could read the ball. The best thing was being known as a hitter.
“Batting was never something I was good at,” he continued. “I had struggled my whole life. We just didn’t know it had anything to do with my eyes.”
The once-struggling hitter had transformed into a force at the plate, his newfound vision clarity unlocking a power and precision he’d never known. But it was his senior year that truly solidified his place as a standout player.
A .310 batting average, the highest on the team, reflected his consistency and ability to get on base. He also led the team in hits (26) and RBIs (20), proving his value as a run producer.
On the mound, Knight displayed solid command and effectiveness, pitching 46 innings with 64 strikeouts and a respectable 2.13 ERA.
His performance on both sides of the ball was instrumental in the Eagles’ success, helping them secure two district championships in the past three seasons, including a 20-10 record and a state quarterfinal appearance this year.
Knight is quick to acknowledge that his achievements are not solely his own, but the result of the team in his corner.
“One of my biggest supporters has been coach East Prairie coach Gary Scott,” Knight said. “He’s always known about my dyslexia and the convergence insufficiency and still gave me the confidence I needed to do my very best. It can be challenging knowing you do things differently than others and anxiety can overtake you and rule your life. Thankfully, I have had the best support system I could ask for.”
With high school now in the rearview mirror, Knight is setting his sights on the horizon and a new adventure with the Falcons, a competitive NJCAA Division II program in Union, Missouri.
But the transition to East Central wasn’t just about baseball for Knight. It was about finding a program that aligned with his values and ambitions.
Head Coach JM Kelly’s emphasis on discipline and a holistic approach to player development resonated deeply with him.
One aspect that particularly stood out to Knight was the emphasis on classroom engagement.
“Coach Kelly expects us to sit in the first three rows and introduce ourselves to the professor on the first day,” Knight said.
This seemingly simple requirement speaks volumes about the coach’s philosophy. It’s not just about showing up; it’s about showing initiative, taking ownership of one’s education, and building relationships with professors.
This approach was a revelation for Knight, who had long struggled to find his footing in traditional academic settings.
“It shows that he cares about us as students, not just athletes,” Knight said. “He’s not just preparing us for the next game; he’s preparing us for life after baseball.”
Knight’s path hasn’t been easy, but it’s the battles he’s won – against both internal and external demons – that have forged him into the exceptional player and person he is today.
“Knight leads by example,” said East Prairie coach Gary Scott. “He’s a self-driven, hard worker with a strong desire to succeed.”
That drive was evident even in the offseason when Knight would spend hours in the weight room and perfecting his pitching after grueling basketball practices. This relentless pursuit of improvement isn’t just about achieving personal goals; it’s about being the best teammate he can be.
“Most people don’t have that kind of drive,” Scott said. “It’s what sets him apart. He’s always been a hard worker and a great teammate. He does it the right way.”
As Knight steps onto the field at East Central, he carries with him not only his talent but also the values instilled in him – lessons of hard work, dedication, and a positive attitude.
These are the qualities that will serve him well as he embarks on the next chapter of his baseball journey.