Vowels pursues passions music and baseball
For decades, music has been a major part of the baseball experience. From Mariano Rivera’s legendary entrances to “Enter Sandman” to the stands in Fenway Park where fans belt out the iconic words to “Sweet Caroline,” music has become an integral part of the game.
For one Flash player, however, the connection between baseball and music goes beyond the diamond. While he spends a lot of his time in the batter’s box and fielding ground balls, Cooper Vowels also has dreams of building a career in Nashville’s country music scene.
Vowels, a 2025 graduate of Henderson County High School, has loved both baseball and music all his life. From his first time wearing the St. Louis Cardinals logo on his PCMA jersey to videos of him singing and dancing as a four-year-old, it was clear that he had a passion for both.
“I remember swinging a wiffleball bat in the backyard with dad and just falling in love with it immediately. Playing PCMA and little league is where you first find out if you do love the sport and there’s no doubt I’ve loved it ever since I’ve played it,” Vowels said.
In his first season with the Flash, Vowels is reuniting with his high school coach J.D. Arndt, both of whom were part of the 2023 Colonels team that made it to the KHSAA final four. The corner infielder is thrilled to be playing back in front of his family and friends.
“It’s like when an MLB player’s family comes in town to watch them. They’ve got a little bit more energy and a little bit more excitement for the game,” Vowels said. “It’s just really, really cool to play for the hometown overall.”
Vowels called his parents, Chris and Kaci, his biggest supporters of both his baseball and music careers. Cooper followed in his father’s footsteps, continuing his playing career at the collegiate level. Chris played basketball and baseball at Kentucky Wesleyan, while Cooper is a member of the baseball team at Brescia University.
He plans to play baseball until he can no longer physically play and will also pursue a career in physical therapy, a field where he hopes to fulfill his desire for helping others.
A career in music is also in the back of his mind. A self-taught musician, he did not begin playing guitar until he was 15 years old, but he distinctly remembers first getting the urge to play music after his mom turned on Chris Stapleton’s album, “Traveller.”
“It’s probably one of my favorites of all time. Something about Stapleton, something about the sound of country music and kind of the bluesy sound. I just fell in love with it,” Vowels recalled.
Vowels taught himself how to play the guitar and write songs from online resources and YouTube videos. He found inspiration in legendary performers such as Stapleton, Hank Williams Jr. and Merle Haggard, who he called the “greatest country artist of all time.”
Several local venues have given Vowels the chance to share his talents. Among them are Cap & Cork, Homer’s Barbecue, the Elks Lodge, and the Elm. Last summer, he and his band also had the opportunity to perform at Henderson’s Porchfest, an event in which local musicians play on the front porches of historic homes on South Main Street. Once he has a bit more time this fall, he hopes to find more spots to play live music around Owensboro, where Brescia is located.
Vowels best described his love of music by quoting the famous philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche who once stated, “Without music, life would be a mistake.”
“I’ve never really met anybody that doesn’t love music. It brings people together,” Vowels said.
Vowels has bigger aspirations as well, hoping for a big break in Nashville.
“I’ve got a close family friend who’s very involved in Nashville and he writes and produces his own music. He’s kind of been a mentor for me so far,” Vowels shared. “Hopefully, I can head down to Nashville in the winter when I have a little bit more time and can get some songs put out there.”
While baseball and music may not seem to have much in common, Vowels said that he has found parallels between the two activities and has learned many lessons from doing both.
“It just takes patience and focus,” Vowels said. “There’s a competitive spirit you could say. I’m competitive on the field and then when it comes down to it, even though I’m playing for myself and I enjoy music, you’re still competing when it comes down to it.”
For now, Vowels is focused on giving his everything to playing baseball for the Flash and his hometown.
“It’s something about baseball, something about the night lights at home when the fans are loud and the music is good. It’s just a great atmosphere to be at… There’s nothing like going to the ballpark,” Vowels said. “We have a really good group this year with a lot of talent. You’re going to see a lot of home runs, great pitching, great defense, and it’s just a very competitive environment.”
Upcoming Flash home games are 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (tonight) vs. Full Count Rhythm and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 20, vs. the Paducah Chiefs. Games are at Park Field.
