Lee Trawick, Reporter2@riverbendnews.org
On Friday, May 27, Riverbend News teamed with the area baseball coaches to vote on this year's Baseball Player of the Year. With a 5-1 vote, Jackson Ward of Lafayette High School was selected as the 2022 Riverbend News’ Baseball Player of the Year.
In his senior season, Ward led the Hornets on the mound with a 9-0 record, while recording 70 strikeouts on the season in 55.1 innings. Ward also batted .424, while driving in 26 runs in only 66 at-bats. Last season, Ward built a reputation as a difficult hitter to face after leading the area in batting average, runs batted in and hits. Entering his senior season, Ward knew he wasn't going to get a lot of opportunities at the plate and knew he had to make the most of what he would get. The Hornets entered the season knowing they would rely on Ward to lead the way for them on the mound. Ward allowed 2.55 hits a game and only seven earned runs all season, giving him an impressive earned run average of .89 while collecting 70 strikeouts. On senior night, Hornets fans watched Ward throw a no-hitter while striking out all but three batters he faced on the night.
"I called Jackson into my office at the beginning and told him we would go as far as he could take us on the mound this season and he did not disappoint," Hornets Coach Tim Hanson said.
"One of my goals going into this season was not to get tired. Last season I felt a few games I was running on fumes, so I spent a lot of time in the gym working out and getting stronger during the fall,” Ward said. “My goal was either to go the complete game or max out my pitch count, but I was not going to come out of the game because I was tired. I felt I owed my coach and teammates that effort every time I stepped on the mound."