Newcastle’s Tyler Frazier

Newcastle High School pitcher Tyler Frazier has learned that setting the tone is both a responsibility and a privilege. As a varsity arm for the Racers, he understands that every outing starts with his first pitch and often follows his lead.

“I mainly pitch and the difficult thing about that is that you set the tone,” Frazier said. “So, when you do bad, you set a bad tone.” That awareness has driven what he calls the biggest change in his game over the past year — a stronger, more mature approach. “My mindset is my biggest improvement from last year,” he said. “I have grown as a player since last year.”

Frazier said the culture around Newcastle baseball has helped him develop that mental edge. “I love how the Newcastle baseball team feels like a family,” he said. That family environment extends beyond the dugout to his home, where his parents provide steady support. “My dad and mom inspire me to be my best both in sports and in school,” Frazier said.

One of his favorite memories on the diamond captures both his confidence and his sense of fun. He still smiles recalling the time he launched his first high school home run moments after being given a very different assignment. “Hitting my first high school homerun after my coach told me to bunt,” he said, calling it his favorite Newcastle baseball moment.

In the classroom, Frazier said he gravitates toward numbers. “My favorite subject is math, and my favorite teacher is Mr. Heatly,” he said. He also represents Newcastle in the National Honor Society, showing he takes academics as seriously as athletics.

Away from school and the mound, Frazier spends his time outdoors, enjoying hunting, fishing and golfing. Around the team, he credits teammates such as Kaden Longman as the most vocal and names Sheamus McLaughlin and Lane Seaton as the ones who keep everyone laughing. Through it all, Frazier said sports have taught him a lesson that reaches beyond baseball. “To always persevere through hard times,” he said. “There are great things waiting beyond the hard times.”