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Being a multi-sport athlete takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and adaptation when going from one sport to the next.
Nixa’s Jaret Nelson needs no time to adjust from basketball to baseball, proving he can do it all.
Less than a week after playing in the basketball state championship, Jaret Nelson has already found his midseason swing. He actually was ready to go hours after leading Nixa to the second-place trophy.
“We were supposed to play Friday night and I was going to play in it, I told them already that as soon as that basketball game is done I’m coming and that got rained out,” Nixa senior Jaret Nelson said.
So, Jaret was ready to go the next day.
“Jaret is the guy that plays in the (basketball) state championship game one night and the next night he goes 2-4 with an RBI and a big hit without seeing live pitching in four months,” Nixa baseball coach Logan Hughes said.
Jaret’s no stranger to racking up stats in the batter’s box, last season he hit nearly .500 with 37 RBIs and 6 home runs.
“Just extremely athletic and can do a lot of things,” said the first-year head coach.
However, he’s also known for his work as captain of the Eagles defense.
“He’s got a good arm so behind the plate he’s quick to transfer and can throw guys out. He’s smart. He’s an intelligent baseball player, he understands the game,” Hughes added.
Jaret’s a natural leader as a catcher, but being a catcher is anything but natural.
“Three summers ago, we were in Arkansas and our catcher went down with some arm injury, and we didn’t have another one. So, I told our coach ‘I can catch’ and I was kidding. He was like, ‘alright’ and I was like, ‘I was kidding’ and he was like, ‘too late you’re going out there,’” Jaret said.
Once a joke, Jaret now takes seriously earning him first-team all-state.
“I liked it and I like to control the game and the pitches and help my pitchers out. I kind of just rolled with it,” said Jaret.
Logan Hughes has previously coached at the collegiate level and sees potential in his senior leader.
“What he can do on a baseball field projects really well at the next level,” said Hughes.
Jaret will play at Fort Scott Community College next year with a bigger goal in mind, “To make it as far as I can,” he said.
