By Don Ketchum

Brody Clifford has a heart as big as all outdoors.

It has allowed him to become a success for the baseball team from Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain as well as in academics.

The junior was officially diagnosed as autistic at around the age of 10, but he hasn’t let that stop him. Whatever he does, it is with enthusiasm.

He will be out in center field and in his accustomed No. 2 spot in the batting order on Saturday (April 28) when the Bears host a first-round Division II state tournament game. Phoenix Sierra Linda is the likely opponent.

“Baseball, this is his love,’’ said Randy Clifford, Brody’s dad and Bradshaw Mountain’s head coach. “There are some things that he repeats over and over, such as hitting off a tee, and it benefits him. Baseball gives him a routine, day after day, game after game.

“He has been very accepted by his teammates. They look out for him. Socially, it has been wonderful to watch him come out of his shell and start to blossom.’’

The fact that Brody can hit the ball with regularity to all fields and play strong defense also has played a part in his evolution.

He hit over .500 as a sophomore last year when he earned a spot on The Arizona Republic’s All-Class 4A team, and is hitting about .440 this year.

“A year like Brody had last year is difficult to duplicate, but he has done a good job,’’ Randy Clifford said.

Brody has switched from left field to center and has enjoyed the transition.

“I like center field more,’’ he said. “It was easy to adjust, easier to understand. You get to cover more ground and have a better idea where the ball is going to go.’’

Said Randy Clifford: “He is a good center fielder. He tracks balls down as well as anyone.’’

And Brody likes hitting in the No. 2 spot.

He gets more at-bats, and said, “I think I see more fastballs and get on base more, let the guys behind me bring me around to score.’’

He calls himself “a line-drive, gap-to-gap hitter. That’s what you have to do if you want to hit for average.’’

Brody has followed another guy who is can hit for average and just about everything else – Albert Pujols of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

“Part of the reason why he has been able to hit like that is that he swings off the tee,’’ Brody said. “My dad told me that Albert has taken something like 55,000 swings off the tee. I don’t think I’ve taken that many, but I have taken a lot of swings off the tee in my back yard.

“Albert Pujols is a great hitter. He knows how to swing the bat. He also knows to be smart about it and to be selective. Wait for your pitch. If you don’t like one, let it go and wait for another. Eventually you will get the one you want.’’

Schoolwork was difficult for Brody at first during his freshman year, but he said he has learned a lot about how to study and has improved quite a bit over the last two years. It is fun now. He has even learned to enjoy math, and is thankful for the help his teachers have given him.

He said he has considering following in his father’s footsteps and maybe become a coach some day, but he isn’t sure yet. He enjoys talking to younger players about the game.

The team is looking forward to the next stage of the season.

“Our team is fantastic,’’ Brody said. “I think we have more energy and enthusiasm than we did last year. We have put a lot of time and effort into it. We really get along, and we always have each other’s backs.’’