JACKSON ACADEMY’S DAKOTA JORDAN WINS MISSISSIPPI GATORADE BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR, THIRD JA ATHLETE TO WIN MISSISSIPPI GATORADE AWARD THIS SCHOOL YEAR – Mississippi Scoreboard

By Robert Wilson

Jackson Academy senior outfielder Dakota Jordan was acknowledged by Gatorade as one of the best highschool baseball participant in Mississippi Friday as he was named the Mississippi Gatorade Baseball Participant of the Yr.

         The Mississippi State soccer and baseball signee set faculty information with 16 house runs (fifth highest within the nation, two behind the chief, based on MaxPreps), a .524 batting common, a .635 on-base proportion, a 1.180 slugging proportion, 57 runs batted in and tied the college report with 55 runs. Jordan was 4 in need of tying the MAIS house run report, set by Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Hunter Renfroe of Copiah Academy in 2010.

         Jordan broke faculty information of Matt Denny (12 house runs, 56 RBIs and .938 slugging proportion in 2011), David Mooney (.512 batting common in 2005), Trent Tyre (.589 on-base proportion in 2018) and tied Edwin Smith’s run report in 2018.

         Jordan led JA to a 21-14 report and a MAIS Class 6A semifinal end. The Raiders have been the one staff to defeat 6A state champion Jackson Prep and 6A state runner-up Madison-Ridgeland Academy within the common season.

         Jordan additionally was used as a pitcher and had a 3-0 report with 3 saves this season. He threw out a number of runners and made many excellent catches from his proper discipline place this season.

         Jordan was named to the MAIS Class 6A All-State staff.

         “I knew what sort of baseball participant we have been getting (Jordan transferred from Canton Academy), however we have been getting a a lot better particular person,” JA coach Parker Harris mentioned. “Dakota is a participant that each one the opposite gamers fed off. I feel essentially the most spectacular a part of the season was that Dakota didn’t have a house run till spring break (mid-March). He confirmed a lot development as a participant towards the top of the season. Dakota took what different groups gave him as a substitute of urgent for a success. His ceiling as a participant could be very excessive. I can’t wait to see what his future holds.”

         Jordan is rated No. 30 amongst highschool gamers by Athlon Sports activities for the Main League Draft in July. The 30^th participant went on the finish of the third spherical in final 12 months’s draft and acquired a $1.1 million signing bonus.

         The 6-foot, 215-pound Jordan, a large receiver in soccer, set a faculty report with 877 receiving yards this season. Jordan broke Langston Anderson’s mark of 765 yards in 2016 regardless of lacking the primary sport final season. Jordan was in San Diego taking part in baseball within the Excellent Recreation Showcase.

         Jordan is third JA athlete to be named a Mississippi Gatorade Participant of the Yr this faculty 12 months. The opposite two are Lakin Laurendine in volleyball and Emery Thigpen in boys soccer. JA is the one faculty to have a number of winners. Gatorade has winners in 12 sports activities.