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Norwell senior pitcher Jarrod Parker, who was a member of the 2006 United States Junior National team that won the world championships in Cuba this fall, will be attending Georgia Tech in Atlanta after completing his high school career next spring.
Parker’s coach, Kelby Weybright, had his heart drop into his shoes when Parker’s mother, Ranelle, told him that her son was going to graduate at mid-term and head south to Georgia.
She was just kidding.
Parker, a slender 6-2 righthander, helped lead the Knights to the Indiana Class 3A high school state final game in which they lost 13-12 to Jasper.
Also looking at other top college baseball programs such as Georgia, Arizona State, Florida and Miami of Florida, Parker picked Georgia Tech during the summer. He made his choice because he liked the relationship he had with the Yellow Jackets coaching staff, the school’s baseball history and the location.
Parker started 10 games for the Knights in 2006, completing 6 and compiling an 8-1 win-loss record with an earned run average under a 1.00. In 59 innings pitched, he struck out 93 batters and walked just 6. He allowed 34 hits, 16 runs and 12 earned runs.
He also was selected as a member of the Northeast Hoosier Conference first team.
As a member of the Junior National team, he drew a starting assignment and posted a win. He also appeared in a couple relief roles.
“It was fun,’’ said Parker, recalling his trip to Cuba. “It was like going back in time. It didn’t impact us as much, but I could see that the people around were greatly impacted.”
While riding on the team bus to the baseball stadium in Cuba, he would see many kids playing baseball or soccer.
Parker is looking forward to his final high school season. He is more concerned about team goals rather than personal accomplishments.
“I want to go back to state and win state,” said Parker.
Shoring up the pitching staff, which lost two key seniors through graduation, is a major concern, but Parker noted that the Knights will return the top seven in the batting order which bodes well for Norwell’s offense.
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