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Salems Scott making noise on the diamond
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Salem's Jordan Scott is making his name known on the diamond in 2014. - photo by Matt Smith

In sports at the high school level, it’s often times hard for a player to make a name for themselves amongst the thousands of other athletes across the country.

Salem junior baseball player Jordan Holloman Scott isn’t leaving that job to destiny, instead, forging a path through the high school baseball landscape one base hit at a time.

The switch-hitting outfielder has impressed teammates, coaches and scouts this spring, earning national recognition from Perfect Game as a 2014 preseason second team Underclassman All-American.

The three-year Seminoles varsity player, who began his career at 6-years-old with the Rockdale Youth Baseball Association, said his journey from little league to All-American has been a tough one, but a path that has driven him both as a player and a person.

“Our schedule is always busy,” Scott said. “A lot of hitting, a lot of practicing and a lot of running.”

While the Seminoles continue their fight for a playoff berth, Scott who has earned recognition as a second baseman, has learned to put his team first above all others.

Scott was selected as the lone second baseman in the nation on the Perfect Game All-American squads, but when you watch Salem, you won’t see him in the infield.

“My current position is in the outfield,” Scott said. Scott moved into the outfield, while teammate Ndiayemon Harrison handles the duties on the infield. "He’s a very, very good player there. It was really humbling and made me want to work a lot harder.

“I’m always going to put the team first,” he said. “That’s just how I’m built. Any way I can help the team, I’m going to do my best at it.”

Salem coach Chad Kitchens said Scott has improved his physicality on the field and that his work ethic has helped him establish his game.

“Jordan’s biggest strength is his dedication to hard work,” Kitchens said. “He is a hard worker that is going to improve every year. Overall, (his) strength and speed have improved the most. He has gotten much bigger, faster and stronger.”

Scott’s strength advantage on the field has helped him do what he enjoys best – get on base. Scott is batting .417 from the left side of the plate, while hitting above .500 in region play from both sides of the plate.

“The best part of the game is getting base hits,” Scott said. “I love getting on base and making things happen, along with hoping I hit one out of the park every now and then.”

With just a handful of regular season region games left on the schedule, Scott hopes that the Seminoles can improve upon their 2-6 mark in league games.

“We’re working to get back to .500,” he said. “Hopefully we can get back to .500. We always want to make the playoffs, but evening our record is an important goal this season.”

While Scott doesn’t put much stock in individual accolades, his is closing in on a few Salem records. The centerfielder is second in career walks, fourth in stolen bases and is ninth in total RBIs.

For Scott, his continued goal still focuses on the home runs hit in the classroom, rather than the base knocks on the field.

“I would love to get drafted, but I also want to go to college and get an education,” Scott said. “That’s really important to me.”

With schools like Georgia Tech, Georgia State, The Citadel, Florida, West Virginia, Liscomb and Miami on his radar, it doesn’t look like Scott can make a bad decision.

His coach seems to agree.

“Jordan is still polishing up his game … he aspires to play at the highest level, so he still has some improvement to make,” Kitchens said. “(But), he is a great player … he gets the tough assignment of hitting in the three-hole, driving in runs. We are proud to have him.”

With a team first mentality, an unparalleled work ethic and the drive to succeed, Scott hopes he has what it takes to make the Seminoles into a contender.