Tigers baseball returns to the field,
requests community support

Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.

“We're not just rebuilding a team – we're rebuilding a community around the team,” said Head Coach Daniel Jones, Sr. in reference to his newly formed baseball team under the Tiger banner.
In late February, with a game on Wednesday, Feb. 19, the Jefferson Somerset Tiger baseball team returned to the field after several years of absence.
According to Coach Jones, baseball had fallen from the focus for the school due to having no one to lead and generate interest in the sport.
Coach Jones saw that as a shame, and chose to step up and take the role in rebuilding a team from, essentially, nothing.
On the Tigers' first game on February 19, the athletes and their coaches walked away with a jubilant win of 21-16 against the Gadsden County Jaguars.
The win provided the team with a high note to start on, and even though their following games have been defeats, Coach Jones remains optimistic and proud of his athletes.
“I'm really proud of what they've done so far,” said Jones. Many of the boys on his baseball team are still learning the game, but he's seen nothing but hard work, dedication and sportsmanship from the high schoolers on his roster.
Coach Jones says he is also proud of how the community has rallied around this team and shown support for the boys and coaches.
“It's a community effort to rebuild a team,” adds Jones. “We want the community to be involved.”
At one of the Tigers' recent home games, the bleachers were full of fans who cheered on the Tigers and supported them with shouts and praises.
There was the smell of meat cooking on the grill as the concession stand served hot dogs, chips, candy and drinks and young children sat on the grass, watching the older boys play baseball.
It didn't matter that the Tigers lost – it mattered that the Tigers were supported.
“We're rebuilding,” concludes Jones, adding that rebuilding is a team effort and a community effort.
Future Tiger games have been temporarily postponed or canceled, due to Coronavirus concerns.