McIntosh’s Varsity baseball team held its senior night on April 13 against Lovejoy. The ceremony where parents walk their seniors down the field started at 5 p.m. Don Wellman was walked by his mother, Wanda Wellman and father, Don Wellman Sr. During their walk, Wanda mentions that they shafted a few words.
“I told him I didn’t know how to throw the ball to him. And he said, ‘It doesn’t matter, mom. Just underhand or overhand.’ And he hugged and kissed me. That’s just the kind of kid he is,” Wanda Wellman said.
That support and kindness has been a constant throughout Don’s life, fueled by the encouragement he receives at home.
“She’s always had a positive outlook on everything. It’s been a good mix from my dad. He’s pretty hard, but he’s fair. My mom’s very nice. She’s always going to be your back end. Everything I’ve done, she’s believed me to do,” Don Wellman said.
For Wanda Wellman, watching her son take those final steps across the diamond brought a sudden wave of realization about how quickly time has passed.
“It actually feels surreal because he’s my baby. I know he’s 17 years old but he’s my kid. So to see him go across like that it’s sitting in that he’s a senior. It’s always last minute when it settles in. But it did feel great. I’m the proudest mother. I can’t wait to see what he becomes,” Wanda Wellman said.
McIntosh won 11-4 against Lovejoy with the game ending shortly after six innings.
Reflecting on his start with the program, Don Wellman recalls how the team’s early success created a rare moment of shared emotion with their leadership.
“Over the years, my favorite memory has probably been my freshman year playing. I hit really well, and I was batting 500. My favorite memory was when we played Ola. We made Coach Routon cry because we played a really good game. There was a guy throwing like 85 and I got a double off him,” Wellman said.
However, the translation from being an underclassman to a senior leader brought new challenges and a shift in perspective.
“Since freshman year, I’ve definitely got more stress on me. Growing up, now is more of ‘what can you do?’ Not ‘what can’t you do?’ So more of overcoming confidence and adversity,” Wellman said.
Mastering the mental side of the game allowed Wellman to embrace his final season with a sense of perspective, though the reality of his departure arrived much faster than anticipated.
“I didn’t think it was gonna happen so soon. I remember my freshman year seeing the guys hang up their jerseys. I was like ‘that’s gonna be me one day.’ Now that day’s come. But it’s been a journey. It’s been fun. I’ve been blessed to receive everything. It’s never the end of a story, just the end of a chapter,” Wellman said.
