Brayden Clark will never forget the pain he felt after learning he did not make the Ceres Pony All-Star baseball team as a youth.

Motivated by the snubbing, Clark devoted countless hours to practicing and improving his skills.

The 2024 Ceres High School grad earned an athletic scholarship to NAIA Division-III Simpson University after blossoming into the Bulldogs’ most dependable starting pitcher.

He signed a national letter of intent with the Red Hawks on Aug. 5.

Clark celebrated the accomplishment with a family dinner at his aunt’s house.

“I’ve always been doubted throughout my baseball career,” he stated. “I tried out for the Ceres All-Star team and the coach said I wasn’t good enough. It made me work harder. I did a lot of training outside in the backyard with my dad. I always knew I could play. I’m just glad my baseball career isn’t ending. I proved a lot of people wrong.”

Clark planned to play baseball at Modesto Junior College before deciding to become a Red Hawk.

“I was messaging back and forth with Simpson’s head coach,” Clark said. “He expressed a lot of interest. Originally, I planned on doing the junior-college route.”

Clark visited Simpson University, a Christian liberal arts college located in Redding, during winter break.

The school is located four hours north of Modesto.

“It was a nice environment,” said Clark, who will major in kinesiology. “It’s not a big-city school. They have a pond on campus. They call it a lake. You can go fishing there.”

Clark is looking forward to competing against Cal State East Bay this upcoming season in Hayward.

“A lot of my family lives in the Bay Area,” he said. “They’re going to come watch me play. It’s going to be nice.”

The Red Hawks qualified for postseason play for the third time in the last four years this past spring. 

Simpson University compiled a 20-29 overall record and finished in third place in the Cal Pac Baseball Standings with a 14-7 mark.

“I’m not going there to mess around,” Clark said. “I’m there to compete. I’m trying to get to the next level.”

Clark will vie for playing time as a true freshman.

“They have one big tryout,” he said. “You get to compete for your spot. I’m a starting pitcher. That’s what I do. I’m open to being a reliever or closer.”

“I’m flexible,” he added. “I can play anywhere on the diamond. I’ll play wherever I’m needed. If they need me to play center field, that’s where I’ll play. I just want to play.”

Clark starred at pitcher on Ceres High’s baseball team for two seasons.

He earned first-team all-Western Athletic Conference honors as a senior.

He posted a 3-1 record with a 0.75 earned-run average, 45 strikeouts and 16 walks in 371/3 innings against WAC opponents.

“I’m very competitive,” Clark said. “I keep batters off-balance. My knuckleball is so effective. I throw it slow. I have a lot of control over my pitches. I don’t miss a lot.”

Clark logged playing time as an outfielder when he didn’t pitch.

He batted .300 from the plate with one double, three RBIs and three runs.

Clark had a combined record of 5-1 with 67 strikeouts at pitcher in WAC play the past two seasons.

“He (coach Raul Godinez) gave me a shot and didn’t look back,” Clark said.

“He was our ace pitcher,” Godinez stated. “He did his job on the mound. He kept us in games.”

“As a pitcher, I set the tone for the game,” Clark added. “Being on the diamond, I picture myself on the mound. It’s me, the catcher and nobody else. I really don’t let pressure get to me.”

Clark filled a major role while leading the Bulldogs to 22 wins and back-to-back Sac-Joaquin Section playoff appearances.

“When it was time to lock in, he competed,” Godinez said. “He was level-headed. He was focused. He brought a different energy to the team. He’s going to be missed.”

“I’m satisfied,” Clark added. “I let my playing do the talking. I went out there and had fun.”

Clark represented the Bulldogs for the final time when he played in the Modesto Sunrise Rotary High School All-Star Baseball Classic on June 8 at Stanislaus State.

Clark and the Gold All-Stars pulled away for an 8-4 win over the Blue All-Stars.

He allowed no earned runs with one strikeout and two walks in the seventh inning.

“I hadn’t pitched in a while,” Clark said. “I walked the first two batters. Once I got dialed in, I started pounding the zone. My knuckleball was the main pitch I was throwing.”

Clark will move to Redding on Aug. 23.

He’s excited for the future.

“Ever since I was little, I always wanted to play a college sport,” he said. “I’m ready. I’m trying to get to the next level. My top goal is to play Division-I baseball in California. I want to make it as far as possible. I know I can do it. Work hard. Stay motivated. Keep grinding.”