Jackson State baseball team to open season against Morehead State

Dontre Graves
MC301 Writer

Jackson State University will open its 60th baseball season on Feb. 18 in their quest to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship.  The Tigers will take on Morehead State at Robert “Bob” Braddy field in their opening game.

Jackson State looks to improve on their second place finish in the SWAC Eastern Division after finishing second to an undefeated Alabama State University team. The Tigers are predicted to finish second once again, but Johnson knows the trials of a long season.

“We play a 56-game season, so I’m not going to be able to see what we’re made of until 20 games in. No team will be able to see who they are until 20 games in,” said head Coach Omar Johnson.

JSU is bringing back a multitude of players from last year’s roster, which would lead you to assume that experience will be on this team’s side, but Coach Johnson doesn’t quite agree.

“Every team is different and it takes about 20 games to see where we’re at. I know these guys can practice I see that every day,” said Johnson.

Key losses to the Tigers will be Jevon Jacobs (graduation), Carlos Diaz (signed to the Cubs), and Jamal Wilson. Jacobs and Wilson combined for a 10-8 record and 4.27 ERA on the mound. At the plate Diaz batted .409, 14 doubles, and 6 home runs which ranked second on the team.

While the losses will hurt, the Tigers will look to the experienced bats of Cornelius Copeland, CJ Newsome, and Jesus Santana. Santana was top 10 in the country with 17 home runs, Copeland, who was top 5 in the country in batting average, and Newsome who was a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American.

On the mound, the Tigers will look to Miguel Yrigoyen, who comes into the season as preseason All-Conference player and who led the Tigers in strikeouts, wins, and innings pitched. He looks to improve on his 4.61 ERA and help the young pitching staff.

Coach Johnson does not compare this team to his past championship teams.

“Every year is different and no team is ever the same as the others. The back to back SWAC championship teams had played over 100 games together and had a chemistry that was very special. We aren’t looking to replicate past teams, we’re worried about this season and only this season.”

Coach Johnson was also very open about how the first weekend won’t be a true indicator of how the season will go.

“The first weekend is played off of pure adrenaline, so I won’t be able to tell who can play and who can’t off our first weekend but I’m very excite for what’s to come,” said Johnson.

Only time and games will tell if the Tigers will once again rise to the top of the SWAC. The Tigers will open the season against Morehead state at 12 p.m. on the Bob Braddy Field at JSU.