Baseball has given the English language plenty of colorful phrases.

“Right off the bat” dates to the late 1800s and describes doing something immediately.

“Having all the bases covered” means being prepared for whatever comes next.

Then there’s the curveball, one of baseball’s most difficult pitches because of its unexpected movement as it travels toward the plate.

Devin Stephens, 18, of Oklahoma City, knows a little about baseball, too. He enjoys watching baseball movies, although his own playing days ended in little league.

Still, the language of the game seems fitting when Stephens talks about the past couple of years.

Life threw him a curveball.

Stephens admits he made some mistakes. Other circumstances were beyond his control, but together they forced him to take his “eye off the ball” for a while.

He needed a reason to make a change. Then he found out he was going to be a father.

“It was like a weird wave hit me, and my first emotion was excitement,” he said.

Nearly two years later, Stephens is back on track with school, a fresh career perspective and is enjoying life as a dad.

He enrolled in Project Connect, Canadian Valley Technology Center’s credit recovery program, while also joining the school’s Underground Utility Line Locating (UULT) program.

Project Connect helps students who are in danger of dropping out re-focus and earn the core credits they need to finish high school.

UULT is a one-year program for high school students that introduces them to utility types, installation methods and the theory behind electromagnetic locating. The training prepares students to locate underground utilities, an essential part of excavation and construction that helps protect workers and homeowners while preventing damage to electric, natural gas, telecommunications and other utility lines.

Stephens is ahead of schedule and could complete his coursework before many of the students in his Mustang High School graduating class.

“This was such a good opportunity for me,” he said. “It has pushed me where I needed to be. The support and the pacing are second to none. In a traditional high school setting, you work at everyone else’s pace. Here, you go at your own pace.

“Life or your environment will dig you a hole. You may feel like life gets overwhelming. CV Tech helped me get out of that hole.”

Stephens also has a clear path to employment after completing the UULT program.

Students who complete the required nine-month program have the opportunity to go to work for USIC, an area line locating company. Starting pay is $20 an hour, with daily take-home use of a company vehicle.

Stephens said the hands-on training is one of the things that sets the program apart. USIC allows students, under instructor supervision, to work on some open utility-locating tickets in the field.

“The class is very supportive. Fun environment to be in,” Stephens said. “I used to want to be a plumber or an electrician. Now I know exactly what I want to do.”

Not long ago, Stephens was looking for a reason to change direction.

Today, he has found one. Stephens stepped up to the plate, recognized the opportunity and took his best swing. This time, he connected.