By Thomas Sellers Jr.
There are a lot of common traits for athletes to reach their signing day.
The latest student/athlete at Tipton-Rosemark Academy to ink a letter of intent was Jordan Massey. On Feb. 8 in the TRA Lobby he was joined by his parents Brian and Melissa and siblings Zachary, Ryan, Zoey Brodie and Chloe Massey to make his future at Southwest Tennessee official.
Jordan’s achievement started like most who have preceded him.
“It’s what he’s always dreamed about,” Brian said. “As a dad I am very happy for him and proud of him. This is always something he wanted to do. In life you have dreams and you can make them reality. You’ve got to put the work in and he’s done it.”
Hard work, investing time and being coachable are other common traits that helped Jordan reach his dream. But Brian noted the key to his son’s success was a gift from Above.
“He started playing at age of 4 and it was about the age of 6 and half we knew he had a hack of an arm,” he said. “He had great arm strength. That’s something you can’t coach. The arm strength in baseball is a huge asset. And as he grew 6, 7, 8 and 9 years old to 12, you can tell it was something special with his arm.”
Now the Saluqis and Head Coach Erik Schoenrock will cultivate the talents of Massey on the next level. Southwest Tennessee competes as part of the NJCAA’s Tennessee Community College Athletic Association.
From his days at Arlington and Rosemark, Massey will join forces with several former rivals once he arrives at Southwest.
Prior to coming to TRA, Massey was a part of Tiger Baseball.
“We got him as a sophomore, real quiet kid with a quick arm,” TRA Head Baseball Coach Jacob Cole said. “Then COVID happened his sophomore year. Never really knew what we had with him. Sophomore/junior summer, he played with us. We were really fortunate the school allowed us to play. He was one of our main pitchers that summer. He really came into his own.”
The summer of 2020, Massey knew he had to make a good first impression on the mound for Coach Cole and the staff.
“Play with the cards dealt to me, I wasn’t going to complain about it,” Jordan said. “I was lucky enough to have a weight room in my garage. So I started doing home workouts and stuff like that. Still hitting in the cage, although I really don’t like hitting. I still have to do it this year — keep hitting in the cage. Just trying to get better.”
Before heading into this senior campaign with the Rebels, Massey had a solid junior year in a new role with the trio of Noah Roland, Zach Seward and Patrick Green on the roster.
“Last year we had to really use him as a closer just because we had Pat, Seward and Noah,” Cole said. “Those guys as the starters, he was really that closer role. He grew up for us in that role last year.”
Massey had 1.4 strikeouts per inning on the mound and had one of the lowest ERAs during the district schedule.
“I was out to prove I can throw strikes when I need to,” Massey said. “And I was trying to give my team the best opportunity to win the ball game.
“It took me a while because I wanted to be a starter and start every game I could,” he continued. “Then I realized whatever I can do to help my team win, I’m willing to do it. I just want to be on the field.”
Brian said his son got an important life lesson with the global pandemic and having to follow behind three talented senior pitchers.
“For him like a lot of other kids, maturity comes in different phases of life,” he said. “It took him a little bit longer to reach that level. He’s here now.
“One thing it taught him to be patient,” Brian added. “At that age when you’re trying to compete, you have to learn how to be a good teammate. You can’t let ego get in the way. He suffered a little bit with not being able to play as much as he thought he should. But he matured and learned it’s better to be a good teammate and down the line your chance will come.”
Cole said that chance is coming in March.
“We’ll need him big time,” he said. “He’s the most experienced guy we’ve got on staff coming back from last year. We need him to take over where those three left last year and be a starter on Mondays and Tuesdays.
“You can’t get there (State) with one arm,” Cole added. “But he’s got the stuff. He’s just as good. He didn’t get the innings those guys got last year but his strikeouts per inning are higher than some of the guys we had last year. Mainly we’ll see if he’s ready if he can take on that role as a starter. It’s a totally different ball game from starter vs. closer. I can give 100 percent effort for that one inning, maybe two innings. I don’t have to grind out a bunch of innings.”
Massey said he’s a natural-born starter and 2022 will give him the stage to prove it.
“I’m definitely ready,” he said. “I’ve been preparing my whole life for all of this stuff. Now I finally get an opportunity to be the guy.”
Massey has proven in the past two years he’s developing into that guy with character. Coaches on the next level have taken notice, the staff at TRA have confidence in him and his teammates have his back. But Massey said he has another motivating factor to have a successful senior year and career at Southwest.
“My dad taught me when I was little, somebody is always watching you,” he concluded. “My little brother does everything I do and looks up to me. I try to be a good role model for him.”
