Announcement
Brandon Jackson has been a member of the Decatur baseball team longer than any of the other kids who currently play. Anyone who has looked into the Gators’ dugout over the last five years has likely seen him.
In those five years, Jackson has been there to help get the team’s equipment in order, help clear bats off the field after an at-bat and provide support to all of his teammates throughout the games.
Jackson is a student with disabilities. Those disabilities have not kept him away from the game he loves the most.
“When I was little, my dad would come home and I’d sit on his lap and watch the Mariners,” Jackson said. “I’ve loved baseball ever since I could throw, hit or catch a ball.”
While managers are often overlooked as members of many teams, Decatur players will be quick to say this is not the case with Jackson. He is known as “B-Jack” to players, coaches and fans.
“He does a lot for the team honestly,” Decatur senior Taylor Havilcek said. “He keeps our heads up, he keeps our hearts high. In bad situations, he’s always positive.”
“He pretty much does everything for the team,” Decatur junior Kaden Jacobs said. “It’s not just the little things like picking up the bats, he’s a motivator. He just brings people up all the time.”
Many would assume Jackson is just another player on the team. He is rarely found without a smile in the dugout.
His relationships with the players also extend beyond just baseball. Jacobs says that before every game, Jackson is there with a pack of Mambas for him and during the fall was often over at his house to watch football.
He also has a close relationship with Danny Graham, head baseball coach for Federal Way High School, who is his youth pastor.
“He just means the world to the players and the school,” Decatur assistant coach John Sugg said. “He’s a real inspiration to everybody. He has a real passion for baseball and comes out here and donates his time. It’s been really nice for him to give that time to us and support that love and passion that he has.”
Sugg’s son who plays for a youth baseball team in the area and Jackson have built a friendship as well. Jackson can often be found at their practices helping out.
While Jackson has a deep love for baseball, his school is also at the top of the list. “My favorite part about Decatur is how we get along with everyone,” Jackson said. “We get along with everyone. We show people our heart. We care for people around our community.”
While he is unable to play for the Decatur baseball team, Jackson is a member of a Special Olympics softball team for Pierce County Friends and Athletes in Tacoma during the summer. He is a third baseman for the team.
“I like it, it’s the hot corner,” Jackson said. “I hit the ball pretty well too.”
He has been playing for three years now. Jackson graduated from Decatur last year. He is currently still attending the Puget Sound Skills Center through the district.
His plans for the future include attending Highline College. Baseball will still be a big focus for him as he would like to get into the business side of the sport, such as ticket sales and marketing.
“He just wishes he could be out there in the field with us,” Havilcek said. “We help him as much as he helps us and it’s tremendous how much he does for us.”
Decatur is the sixth seeded team out of the South Puget Sound League this year going into the West Central District playoffs. Jackson will be there, as he almost always is, helping and cheering his friends on to state.
by TERRENCE HILL, Federal Way Mirror Reporter May 9, 2015 at 10:00AM
