Gabriel Arteaga-McNurlin’s high school story is a little different than other Smith-Cotton seniors. 

He attended S-C for his junior year, but moved to Michigan City, Ind., after that school year; he came back to Smith-Cotton at the start of second semester. Gabriel has played baseball as long as he can remember, but was not eligible to play at the start of the 2021 baseball season because of a misunderstanding between his old school and MSHSAA. 

“When I found out that I was not eligible to play at the start of the season, it made me feel like my senior year was going to be wasted because baseball has always been a big part of my life. Baseball has always given me a reason to work hard to pass my classes,” Gabriel said. 

S-C Baseball Head Coach Kyle Zimmerman said that although he was ineligible at the start of the season, Gabriel is a great person to have on the team, and he is thankful that everything was worked out so Gabriel could play. 

“He has a great attitude and work ethic. He wants to be successful and I think he will grow up to do great things,” Zimmerman said. 

After high school, Gabriel hopes to play college baseball, although he doesn’t know where yet. 

“I have been applying to multiple colleges; I have not firmly decided on a college yet, but I hope wherever I go will give me the chance to play the sport that I love,” he said.