Outfielder, husband and dad hopes to guide Stanislaus State into playoffs

Michael Wyatt has found his calling — to be a husband, a father and a Warrior.

The central Washington native’s journey to the Central Valley to play baseball at Stanislaus State was a path paved by Wyatt’s hard work and devotion.

His faithful dedication to his church and desire to provide for his Hughson-native wife, Meredith, and now-15-month old daughter Zella, got him where he is today — playing baseball while finishing college.

It seems the 25-year-old outfielder was destined to wind up in Turlock. After completing his missions work with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after high school, Wyatt spent time with his brother, Brent, in Rexburgh, Idaho.

Michael Wyatt worked out with his brother, who was a minor-leaguer in the Detroit Tigers organization in hopes of getting into collegiate baseball. That’s where he met Meredith, who was attending Brigham Young University-Idaho, through mutual friends.

The two were married in June 2016 and a few months later Zella was on her way, just as Wyatt was finishing his second year at Columbia Basin College in southeastern Washington.

Looking to transfer to a four-year school, Wyatt had options in different parts of the country, including a scholarship offer back home at Central Washington in Ellensburg, Wash.

But the CWU program just didn’t feel like the right fit. He had heard of Stanislaus State, near his wife’s hometown, so he reached out to Stanislaus State recruiting coordinator, Mike McNeil.

“I emailed (Stan State) behind Meredith’s back,” Wyatt said. “I didn’t want to get her hopes up.”

Within minutes, McNeil responded. Within a week, head coach Kenny Leonesio called to offer Wyatt a roster spot.

Meredith, a 2009 Hughson High graduate, was thrilled to be home and for her husband to continue his education and play baseball.

Meredith’s parents, Mark and Cindy, also have been very supportive helping the couple juggle their schedules.

Aside from attending classes around Meredith’s work schedule (she teaches at Denair Charter), being a student-athlete and help raising Zella, Wyatt also teaches a religion class at Hughson High School at 6:30 a.m. as part is his service for the church.

He doesn’t have to work, yet, but has a job lined up with a Modesto accounting firm, where he can start after he obtains his accounting degree in the fall.

“Not only has (Meredith) been a wonderful mother who had to pick up the slack when I leave for baseball, but she has been the provider for our family for the last three years,” Michael said. “She would love to be home with Zella, but has worked the last three years so that I can play baseball.

“I will be forever grateful for her sacrifice for our family!”

Zella, who was named after Meredith’s great grandmother, has attended just about every Warrior game with her mom and grandparents. She has also made many road trips to see daddy play.

If it all goes well, Zella will be going to a few more games and extra road trips this May.

The Warriors are 22-14 overall, 18-12 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, where they are in fourth place. Wyatt, who platoons in the outfield and is hitting .280 in 24 games, is hoping to get his team to the CCAA Tournament in Stockton.

Stanislaus, which has a four-game series at Cal Poly Pomona on Friday before returning home to play its final 10 games at home, hasn’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 2008.

“He definitely made a difference on the team,” McNeil, the recruiting coordinator, said of Wyatt. “He’s just such a great person and hard worker. Some guys go hang out and play video games; he goes home to be a husband and dad.”

Hung P. Tsai is assistant athletics director, Communications & Marketing, for Stanislaus State. He wrote this story for The Modesto Bee.