Jackson

Nearpass knows success of Jackson baseball will be determined when offense gets going   By Mike Moore Staff Writer   Jackson — Pitching often has the early season advantage in terms of baseball. When the spring season begins, sometimes with snow flurries still swirling, getting legit swings off live pitching is a luxury few teams have.   As David Nearpass looked back on the first four games of the 2016 season, the Jackson skipper sees plenty of potential with his group, “once the bats wake up,” he said with a laugh.   “We’ve played four games and allowed 10 total runs. We should be 4-0,” Nearpass said. “We’ve pitched well enough to win. The defense has been pretty strong for being early in the season. We just need to get the bats going.”   The Vikings were just 1-2-1 through those games, and as Nearpass said, a pitching staff that’s allowed 10 runs deserves a better record.   Asked what the main issue has been so far, Nearpass said pitch selection.   “We’re letting too many good pitches go by,” he added. “We’re taking that first strike, then getting behind in the count. If it’s there, smack it. We have…

Suddeth was do-everything leader for Jackson High in 2015-16   By Mike Moore Staff Writer   Jackson – The score sheet suggested his importance to the Jackson boys basketball team on a nightly basis.   But those closest to the Vikings’ program know the impact Shonte Suddeth had on the day-to-day success went well beyond points and rebounds.   He was Jackson’s quiet leader, the guy who could play all positions and guard all types of offenders.   If the Vikings needed him to score, he could.   Rebound? Sure.   Lead? Without a doubt.   “His drive to be good is what set him apart,” coach Dan Crowley said. “He worked harder than anyone we have. I’d get calls from him on the weekend to work out. Over Christmas time he wanted to get in and work on shooting. That’s just the kind of player he was.”   The kind of player that earned the 2015-16 JTV Sports Boys Basketball Player of the Year award.   “People have told me he’s as good a point guard as Jackson has ever had,” Crowley said. “I don’t know if that’s the case or not, but since I’ve been a freshman in…