DOTHAN, Ala. – Leadership is no longer just coming from the top of the Wallace Community College baseball program — it’s coming from the locker room.
A group of sophomore players have taken initiative by forming a leadership council aimed at building accountability, unity and a winning culture for the Govs as they prepare for another run at the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) championship.
The council was started by four sophomores: Grant Hodges, Jackson Cliatt, Kason Gleaton, and Peyton Ryback. Their goal is to take ownership of the team’s direction — both on and off the field.
“We realized if we wanted to win this season and chase another ACCC title, it had to start with us,” said Gleaton, the team’s first baseman. “We needed to hold ourselves and each other accountable.”
The 2025 roster includes 15 sophomores and 16 freshmen — nearly an even split — giving the older players a chance to step into leadership roles as mentors and role models.
The “big brother-little brother” dynamic has already started to take shape, even during the fall season, which runs through October. The team plays several games this time of year to gear up for the official spring season.
But leadership for the Govs isn’t just about baseball. The players also hold regular team meetings and Bible studies — efforts meant to strengthen trust and unity.
Head Coach Ryan Ihle said he’s already seen a noticeable shift in team culture.
“The little things — our locker room has been cleaner, our weight room has been picked up, our facility has been nicer,” Ihle said. “Things I would have to harp on in the past, I haven’t had to do so this year.”
For Gleaton, that accountability has translated into a stronger sense of brotherhood — and better baseball.
“All [the coaches] have to focus on is coaching us,” Gleaton said. “We just stay bonded and accountable to each other. Yesterday, for example, we had a hitter battling off pitches — and it felt like he was doing it for us and the team, not just himself. It was just wonderful to see.”
The Govs will play their first home game of the fall next Friday.
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