What does it take to leave a high school baseball program better than you found it? For Beggs senior Jerrett Hammer, it starts with two clear goals: “Have a higher batting average than last year and a lower ERA.”
Hammer, a senior for the Golden Demons, has become a do-it-all presence for Beggs. “Shortstop, second base and pitcher,” he said, describing his roles on the field. He pairs that versatility with production: “Batting average: .310, OBP .494, 4 errors all season, and a 4.2 ERA.”
As a team leader, Hammer likes what he sees from Beggs heading into his final season. “We have set high goals and have been putting in the work,” he said of the Demons’ preparations. The work is showing up in the batter’s box as well. “We have been hitting the baseball significantly harder,” Hammer said.
Those improvements feed into the team’s postseason ambitions. “We plan on making it to the state tournament and we have been putting in the extra work to achieve these goals,” Hammer said. On defense, he believes Beggs has a clear identity. “Our fielding is the strongest thing on the team.”
“When I’m on the field, I think about making plays and what I should be doing if a ball gets hit to me. When I’m pitching, I think about executing the pitch as best as I can,” Hammer said. Off the field, he values the bond the Demons share. “We are all very close with each other,” he said.
Hammer’s baseball IQ shows in how he approaches each pitch. “Number of outs, where the runners are on base, and speed of runners,” he said. “Also the pitch count and where I think the player is most likely to hit the ball,” he said of what he’s processing during an at-bat.
Hammer also hopes people remember the way he carried himself. “Respected the game, umpires, and opponents. I did things the right way even when no one watched,” he said.
Looking back, one trip stands out the most. Hammer pointed to a special team memory: “when we all went to Arizona on the spring break trip.”
