COLUMBUS — Saturday afternoon saw Heritage Academy senior Jack Ketchum verbally commit to playing baseball at the University of Alabama.
A multi-sport standout for the Patriots, Ketchum has a career batting average north of .400, finishing his junior season with a .490 batting average in 29 games played. He’s also a pitcher with a fastball that reaches the low 90s.
That, combined with All-District performances in both football and basketball has made him one of the best all-around high school athletes in the Golden Triangle.
However, his journey to Tuscaloosa started years earlier as he grinded through springs and summers of playing in junior high, high school and with travel ball teams.
“I haven’t had any time to sit down and be like, ‘Dang, I’m getting the opportunity to play in the SEC,’” Ketchum said. “I just think I’m blessed to have that opportunity and I’m very excited for it.”
Upon his announcement over the weekend, Ketchum had his priorities situated elsewhere as he was in the middle of Heritage’s senior retreat, an annual tradition among seniors at the academy.
It wasn’t until he returned back to Columbus that emotions and feelings of satisfaction and accomplishment began to set in.
Saturday’s commitment was the climax of a whirlwind of several months of summer ball and college scholarship offers.
“I went to Hoover (Alabama) for a tournament and pitched really well,” Ketchum said. “After that, a lot of coaches started calling. Then, I went to this big event in Phoenix and I did really well in it. That’s when it got really crazy for about a week…That was probably the turning point of my recruiting process.”
Ketchum and longtime Crimson Tide pitching coach Jason Jackson had been talking since the spring, but nothing materialized. Then, in May, head coach Brad Bohannon was fired due to betting allegations.
Alabama’s new coaching staff, headlined by former University of Maryland head coach Rob Vaughn, quickly offered Ketchum, making the decision to go to Tuscaloosa seem like the right one.
“They’re some of the most personable people I’ve ever met,” Ketchum said. “They make you feel like you’re wanted.”
Alabama wasn’t the only notable school going after Ketchum as Mississippi State made a push for the senior in recent weeks.
While his interactions with Chris Lemonis and his staff in Starkville were great, there was just something different about the Crimson Tide that pulled him in.
“That’s always honestly where I’ve wanted to go for a long time,” Ketchum said.
His future will be in Tuscaloosa, but the present continues to be with Heritage as he enters next season the anticipated leader of this team, an unofficial team captain for the Patriots.
First-year head coach Zander Romano is anticipating him to be his No. 1 on the mound and a trusted player at third base, as well as a big bat in the lineup.
From his time at Jackson Prep, Romano has seen Ketchum from a distance or seen him from across the diamond, but now, he’ll get the opportunity to coach the two-way standout.
“Even being down in Jackson and getting caught in the Central Mississippi area, his name definitely traveled down there as a talented kid,” Romano said. “He was one of the first people that introduced himself after I was named head coach. I knew immediately what kind of a kid he is. He’s a special talent, but the most special thing has been the quality of kid that he is.”
Heritage is home for Ketchum, and as his senior season has begun, he is grateful of the opportunities he’s been afforded, especially as he prepares for college baseball.
“Heritage has done so much for me,” Ketchum said. “…I didn’t come until my seventh or eighth grade year, and going into it, I didn’t know what to think. Looking back, it was the best decision that my parents have ever made for me.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 33 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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