Houston pitcher Jackson signs with South Georgia

mbrown@sunmulti.com

On a pitching staff that had two college signees, it could

easily be forgotten what Hunter Jackson, a junior at the time, did for the 2012

Houston County High Bears run in the GHSA baseball playoffs. To compliment the

work of Austin Wallace and Clint Wynn, Jackson won five games, saved two and

posted a 3.35 earned run average.

Now the leader of Jason Brett’s rotation for the upcoming

2013 season, Jackson himself goes into the spring with his own immediate future

in college baseball decided. On Tuesday, he signed a letter-of-intent with

South Georgia College, a program that just two years ago qualified for the

NJCAA World Series.

“He was a pleasant surprise,” said Brett, a South Georgia

alumnus. “We weren’t real sure who our No. 3 was going to be. He took the reins

and wanted the ball. I thought he pitched better towards the end of the year

than in the beginning.

“South Georgia is not only getting a good pitcher, but a

good student. His fastball has some movement to it because of the arm slot he

throws from. He throws a curve ball he’s been working on, and it’s a little

sharper than it was a couple of years ago. He throws three pitches for strikes.

“The big thing is he’s a smart kid on the mound. He’s ahead

of his time in that aspect.”

South Georgia head baseball coach Jeff Timothy is starting

his second season in Douglas. He called Jackson a winner on and off the field,

which is a trait he values the most in a recruit. He has six sophomore pitchers

for the 2013 season, so he expects Jackson to get ample chances to earn mound

time.

“He has good size, and I think we can make him into a better

player,” said Timothy, who as an assistant coach on the 2011 World Series team.

“He’s a competitor, gets after it, keeps the ball down. Typically, with guys

that big their mechanics are a tad off. He has very good mechanics. I think we

got a hidden gem, so to speak.”

Jackson’s goal, of course, is to lead Houston County High to

region and state championships.

“It’s a big step,” said Jackson about earning this

scholarship and his approach to pitching. “It’s all about hard work and

determination. Hit the zone. Attack the zone. Let the batters get themselves

out. They will do it at this level.”

“There will be a transition, but he plays in a good

classification,” said Timothy. “He has good coaches. I think he’ll figure it

out pretty quick.”

“I love the campus,” said Jackson about South Georgia. “I

love the coaches. They seem to run a great program, and I’m excited to be a part

of it.”

It is Jackson’s goal to eventually play baseball at a

four-year college, and he will see what opportunities arise for him as his time

with the Tigers progresses.

“I don’t have a particular school I’d like to go to,” said

Jackson, whose career goal is to become a pharmacist. “As long as I can keep

playing ball.”

“He’s been a good leader on and off the field,” said Brett.

“He’s the veteran presence we need on the mound.”

“Last year we had a great rotation,” said Jackson. “This

year, it’s kind of my rotation, you could say. I want to take us even further …

than we did last year.”

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