By Kyle Roberts
RUSTON, La. — Ruston High School saw three Bearcats sign to play collegiately in baseball Wednesday afternoon after seniors Jackson Burroughs, Jackson Lee and Hudson Wood inked their agreements to play for their new respective schools.
Burroughs will head to Meridian Community College, Lee will go to Copiah-Lincoln Community College, and Wood will head to Southwest Mississippi Community College.
“It’s a good day to celebrate these guys and their families,” Ruston High Head Coach Bryan Beck said. “I’ve been with them for four years — two as an assistant and my second as their head coach, and I’ve gotten to see them grow to where they are now. It’s pretty special. They play the game the right way, they treat each other the right way. They treat their community, their classmates and their school the right way, and I’m very proud.”
Beck also spoke individually about each of his three players.
“I don’t know if there’s anybody who is going to out-work Hudson Wood,” Beck said. “He’s going to be in the cages, he’s going to be out there trying to get more grounders — he’ll do whatever he can to make himself better. Jackson (Lee) — he’s a baseball player. He knows how to play the game. Being a four-year letterman at this point, it’s a testament to the incredible athletic ability that God has given him with a high baseball IQ. And Jackson (Burroughs) — he reminds me a little bit of me in the fact he thinks he’s the best player on the field. It doesn’t matter if it’s at first or third base, or right field, or DH — he thinks he’s the best guy for that spot that day. He’s grown up in a baseball house, but he has created his own identity.”
For Burroughs, son of Louisiana Tech head coach Lane Burroughs, it was an easy decision to go to Meridian, given his family is from the region. Burroughs plans to study something in the math field while he’s there.
“I’ve grown up around that area and been familiar with it — it’s kind of like a second home for me,” Burroughs said. “(It means) having somewhere I can get a home-cooked meal if I need. It kind of made that an easy decision for me.”
Wood chose Southwest Mississippi Community College because of the home-feel on his visits.
“I’m super excited,” Wood said. “It’s a place that felt like home for me. It should be a good two years.”
For Lee, Copiah-Lincoln’s staff helped him see how he will make an immediate impact.
“The coaches there really wanted me,” Lee said. “It’s a team that is trending upwards, and I believe they will help develop me and reach the next level.”
