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Flare, swagger propels outfielder Ty Jackson to become FAMU baseball's 'energy guy'
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- Flare, swagger propels outfielder Ty Jackson to become FAMU baseball's 'energy guy'
Florida A&M baseball will get to enjoy some home cookin' in its next Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series against Mississippi Valley .
The Rattlers (18-18, 12-3 SWAC), third in the SWAC East, is returning to Moore-Kittles Field for the first time in two weeks to play its three-game series against the Delta Devils (10-27, 2-13 SWAC), last in the SWAC East.
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The series will run from Friday to Sunday.
FAMU swept the MVSU in March during their SWAC-opening series.
"We're excited to be back home," FAMU head coach Jamey Shouppe said. "We've been on the road a lot and hopefully we play well this weekend. The weather should be very nice. All these conference games are important down the stretch. We can't let any of them get away.
"We're shooting to position ourselves for the conference tournament as the number one seed."
The Rattlers traveled to Gainesville on Tuesday for a midweek game to play against the third-ranked Florida Gators .
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Though the FAMU faltered, 17-7, the team showed the ability to compete against a team that's currently in the upper-echelon of college baseball.
Especially offensively as The Rattlers had ten hits to the Gators' fourteen.
"They're ranked number three for a reason and they have a chance to win the national championship this year," Shouppe said. "If we're fortunate enough to win the SWAC this year, we'll be in a similar environment. So, it was good for our players.
"I was impressed how we did offensively against them. We hung in there, but we didn't play defense or pitch."
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Ty Jackson's expressiveness on the diamond positively impacts the Rattlers
Florida A&M baseball outfielder Ty Jackson prepares stands at bat in game against Eastern Illinois at Moore-Kittles Field in Tallahassee, Florida, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023
Blonde mohawk.
Stepping up to the plate as 'Grove St. Party' by Waka Flocka blares out the Moore-Kittles Field speakers.
That just exemplifies the liveliness and adrenalized personality of FAMU baseball transfer outfielder Ty Jackson .
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"You have to bring that positivity attitude no matter what. No matter what the score is ― no matter the outcome. You have to love every bit of it and wake up tomorrow and give God that glory, honor, and praise," Jackson said.
Jackson has made an immediate impact for the Rattlers on the diamond. He leads the team with 49 hits and is second with a .366 batting average along with tallying three homeruns.
Jackson is also the model teammate as a locker room guy that expresses his respect for the game through his determined, but high-spirit character.
"He's our energy guy and never has a bad day. You don't have to play baseball ― you get to. It's an opportunity that he takes advantage of rather if it's a practice or a game," Shouppe said.
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"Attitude is the key to life and this guy is going to have a good life ― in baseball and out of baseball because he has the attitude thing in check. He displays a great winning attitude.
"I love the guy. He's one of my all-time favorite players. Ty Jackson is going to go far in life."
The outfielder transferred to FAMU this season as a junior college transfer from East Georgia State College.
Being from Jacksonville, he's grown up around Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) with Edward Waters in his backyard.
Jackson's desire to be educated and play alongside minorities pushed him to come to FAMU.
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"In Florida, the main HBCU you hear about is FAMU. That caught me and that's why I wanted to come here," Jackson said. "I love that HBCU culture because not that many times growing up you get to play with a lot of minorities. Now, it's a culture change with for me. I get to play with some of the brothers.
"I think everybody's junior college goal is to make it D1 and I got to live that goal. I have to thank my junior college coach Eric McCombie . He knew coach Shouppe. Coach Shouppe came to see me and it was all written from there.
"It's truly a blessing for Coach Shouppe to give me a scholarship for me to come out here and showed what I can do."
FAMU's Ty Jackson cherishes every chapter in his baseball journey
Savannah Bananas center fielder Ty Jackson shows off his Coastal Plains League championship ring from last season.
Jackson's climb to the playing on the NCAA Division I level doesn't only stem from playing in junior college.
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During his offseason, he played in the Coastal Plains League (CPL) for the Savannah Bananas , who are known for their showmanship on the baseball diamond.
The CPL is a summer baseball league. Jackson helped the Bananas win back-to-back CPL championships in 2021 and 2022.
"It's a dream come true," Jackson said. "Nowadays, kids want to play for them and it was truly a blessing. They brought me out of my shell and I can't thank them enough."
As Jackson accomplished his dream of playing on the highest level of college baseball, he took some time to soak in the moment during the Rattlers' game against the Gators on Tuesday.
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He thought about all the places that baseball has taken him and will take him as stepped up to bat at Florida's Condron Family Ballpark at Alfred A. McKethan Field ― finishing with a team-high three hits.
"I stepped in the box first at bat and took a deep breath ― looked at the surroundings," Jackson said. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and soaked it all in because not everybody gets to do that.
"All Glory to God. He's written this for me and it's been a wonderful journey."
Florida A&M vs. Mississippi Valley SWAC Baseball Series Information
FAMU baseball head coach Jamey Shouppe talks with Malachi Mitchell.
When: Friday, April 21 at 5 p.m.; Saturday, April 22 at 2 p.m.; Sunday, April 23 at 1 p.m.
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Where: Moore-Kittles Field; Tallahassee, Florida
FAMU softball travels to Bethune-Cookman for three-game SWAC series
The Rattlers (17-18, 10-7 SWAC) are amidst a strenuous schedule that features five games this week.
FAMU began its week playing a two-game series against Alabama A&M to make up the team's intended first series earlier this month.
The Rattlers, fourth in the SWAC, dropped both games to the Bulldogs.
Now, FAMU will travel to Daytona Beach to face rivals Bethune-Cookman in the penultimate SWAC regular season series. It will run from Friday to Sunday.
The last time these teams met, the Wildcats (13-27, 11-7 SWAC) won two of three games in Tallahassee.
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Florida A&M at Bethune-Cookman SWAC Softball Series Information
Florida A&M softball head coach Camise Patterson and outfielder Melkayla Irvis shares a laugh during a game against Alabama State at the University Softball Complex in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 14, 2023
When: Friday, April 21 at 3 p.m.; Saturday, April 22 at 1 p.m.; Sunday, April 23 at 1 p.m.
Where: Sunnyland Park; Daytona Beach, Florida
Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.
Follow the Tallahassee Democrat on social media at Tallahassee Democrat (Facebook), TallahasseeDemocrat (Instagram), and @TDOnline (Twitter)
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Baseball: Ty Jackson's positive attitude key to Rattlers morale
