UTRGV Baseball pitcher Ryan Jackson learned April 15 that he was selected as Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week. Jackson’s pitching helped the Vaqueros to win the series against Grand Canyon University April 12-14.
This is the second time that Jackson is selected as pitcher of the week. The Nikki Rowe High School alum won this recognition before in the 2015 season, as a freshman at UTRGV.
Jackson shared with The Rider what it means to him being awarded with conference pitcher of the week as someone from the Rio Grande Valley.
“It’s an awesome feeling,” Jackson said. “I get to represent the Valley. I’m playing here in my backyard, basically I live 10 miles away. Being here, I grew up watching the [Edinburg] Roadrunners and the [Harlingen] White Wings and all those guys play here, and I got to watch the UTPA Broncs play here. So, I always wanted to stay here in the Valley.”
Inspired to play baseball by his father since he was 9 years old, Jackson ironically confessed that his favorite position is not the one he is actually playing; he prefers to play catcher.
“It’s just what I got recruited as,” he said. “My favorite position at heart is catching. I like catching, but pitching is what I’m better at.”
Things don’t fall from the heavens; you have to make them happen. Jackson was asked how he prepared each week to be able to earn this kind of achievement.
“I just trust the program,” he replied. “Our coaching staff gives us a daily program. It’s a seven-day program. You just keep the same routines, do everything on the list and hope you’ll be ready for this weekend.”
Jackson is not just satisfied being named pitcher of the week. The sky is the limit and he wants to go high enough to put the Rio Grande Valley on top, as well as play in the WAC tournament in his last year playing for the Vaqueros.
“I want be a First Team All-WAC pitcher, that’s the goal,” he said. “I want to get to the playoffs.”
During his high school senior year in 2014, Jackson earned Second Team All-State, First Team All-Valley and Team MVP honors.
Jackson was asked to give advice to all Valley high school students who want to play baseball at the Division I level.
“Dream big and work hard,”Jackson said. “I put in a lot of hours at the training facility that I went to. I know in high school they work with you during class and stuff and after school, but it’s the things you do after that really separates you from being good and getting into the DI level.”
