For Upperman Bees baseball senior Braden Green, the dream did not start under the bright lights of varsity competition. It started in the backyard.
Green said he has been around the game for as long as he can remember. What began as simple games with his brother quickly turned into something more meaningful.
“It just turned into something more serious,” Green said. “I started competing more and more as I got older and got bigger, stronger. It’s always been a second nature to me it feels like.”
That natural feel for the game has carried into his senior season, where Green plays both infield and pitcher, giving Upperman versatility on both sides of the ball. As the Bees navigate the early part of the 2026 season, Green remains one of the steady presences in the lineup.
A returning contributor from last season, Green helped anchor an offense that has proven it can put up runs in bunches. His ability to get on base and play multiple positions makes him a valuable piece for a team looking to find consistency as the season progresses. But Green said baseball has always been about more than just performance.
“I always enjoy having people around me,” Green said. “Even the people that I haven’t known that aren’t family still come and support me to this day.”
That sense of community has been part of his journey from the very beginning. His father, who now serves as Upperman’s middle school coach, played a major role in introducing him to the sport. Growing up, Green said he spent countless hours around older players, soaking in the environment and imagining his own future in a Bees uniform.
“Every time when I was seven to eight years old in that range, I was always around the middle school players,” Green said. “And they seemed happy to meet me at that time and I looked up to all them all the time.”
With his senior season underway, Green’s story has come full circle, from a kid watching practices and dreaming of wearing the jersey, to a leader helping guide the next chapter of Upperman baseball.
