Column: Parker stands tall in GSC

By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
Jordan Parker isn’t an imposing figure until he steps to the plate.
The University of Alabama at Huntsville redshirt freshman takes on a different persona when he faces opposing pitchers. And that has drawn the respect of coaches in the Gulf South Conference this season.
Parker was named as the Gulf South Conference’s East Division freshman of the year after leading the Univeristy of Alabama at Huntsville in four offensive categories.
Parker was nominated for the honor by the Chargers’ baseball coaching staff and the vote was simple: the UAH third baseman was the top freshmen in the division this season both offensively and defensively.
The Hartselle graduate hit .347 this season and led the Chargers with 58 hits. He also had a .467 slugging percentage.
Those were pretty solid numbers for any first year player in one of the top Division II baseball conferences in the nation. They were even better considering Parker nearly didn’t get the opportunity to play college baseball.
His college career almost ended even before it started, however. He suffered a torn labrum during the Chargers’ first spring practice in 2007.
Doctors feared the injury might prevent Parker from being able to perform at the same level once the injury healed. The shoulder injury is one of the toughest for baseball players to rehabilitate.
Parker hopes to take the summer break and spend some added time in the weight room to give him a little more power at the plate. “I need to gain some weight and add some more muscle,” Parker said. “I don’t have great size, so some added muscle would really help.”
And that’s not good news for the rest of the Gulf South Conference.
Sports editor Todd Thompson can be reached at 773-6566 or by email at todd.thompson@hartselleenquirer.com