BROKEN ARROW – Broken Arrow High School senior and Cherokee Nation citizen Cade Moreland will continue his baseball career at Mid-America Christian University, extending a competitive trek nearly cut short by a serious head injury.
Moreland will join the Evangels as a utility player – a role with which he is acquainted at BAHS, where he has put in innings as a pitcher, first baseman, catcher and right fielder.
“From the beginning, the (MACU) coaching staff made it clear they value me not just as a player, but as a person,” Moreland said. “Their commitment to my development, along with the strong team culture and competitive environment, made MACU feel like the right place for me to grow both athletically and personally.”
The route to signing day had a tight turn. During his junior season, Moreland passed out, struck his head and sustained a brain bleed and skull fracture. He spent six days in the hospital. Doctors told him there was a significant possibility he might not play baseball again.
“After years of hard work toward playing at the next level, the thought of losing the game I love was devastating,” he said.
His recovery lasted nine weeks and required total rest – no throwing, no swinging bats, no other activity. From home, he watched his teammates continue through the season.
“That experience gave me a new perspective and taught me how quickly something you love can be taken away,” Moreland said.
Eventually cleared to return, Moreland came back to play “travel ball” during the summer and drew multiple scholarship offers before committing to MACU.
Moreland grew up in Bella Vista, Arkansas, before his family moved to Broken Arrow in 2019. His connection to baseball dates to age two when his parents gave him a toy tee-ball set. He was playing organized ball by age four and never stopped.
Moreland credits his development as a player to competitive play with TBT Baseball Oklahoma where he honed his skills under coach Christopher Kennedy, and playing for Broken Arrow head coach Shannon Dobson.
Beyond baseball, Moreland has maintained a durable connection to his Cherokee heritage through Indian Education programs at BAHS, and deeply identifies with his Indigenous lineage.
“As a Cherokee Nation citizen, I take great pride in my culture and strive to represent it in everything I do,” he said. “I hope my journey can encourage other Cherokee students to pursue their goals and continue moving forward, even when challenges arise.”
Moreland pointed to words offered by the late Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller as a guiding principle.
“Individually and collectively, Cherokee people possess an extraordinary ability to face down adversity and continue moving forward,” he said. “That belief is something I carry with me, both in baseball and in life.”