Naperville Central’s Jackson Persin Reflects on Memorable Baseball Season

Naperville Central senior Jackson Persin stood out in the final game of his high school baseball career, not just for his skills but also for his noticeably stained uniform pants. Despite attempts to wash them, the stains remained, symbolizing the gritty effort he and his teammates displayed throughout the season. This effort culminated in their participation in the Class 4A third-place game, which concluded with an 11-2 loss to Mount Carmel.

Although the state finals yielded two significant losses, the Redhawks finished with a 30-11 record, marking the third state trophy in the program’s history. Persin expressed pride in the accomplishment, stating, “It was a long year, and we worked hard. It’s satisfying to return with something memorable.”

Persin contributed significantly to the Redhawks’ memorable season. Playing in 32 games, he started the year as a catcher and later took roles as a designated hitter and third baseman. In the game against Mount Carmel, he started at third base and went 1-for-2, driving in both of the team’s runs.

Jackson has been an integral part of our success this season, competing against top pitchers. His ability to hit against strong opponents is why he’s positioned at the top of the order.

Persin gave the Redhawks an early 1-0 lead, singling to right field and driving in Jermaine Kenady, the junior center fielder, in the first inning. Persin later hit a sacrifice fly to score Michael Page, marking his final plate appearance of the season. He concluded the season with a .263 batting average and 11 RBIs over 57 at-bats.

Naperville Central coach Mike Stock praised Persin’s involvement, highlighting his competitive nature and contributions both at the plate and in the field. The match against Mount Carmel saw Stock utilizing 19 players, including six pitchers, to give everyone an opportunity to play.

Despite the loss, senior leaders like Persin helped propel the Redhawks further than anticipated. The team went on a 15-game winning streak before falling to Maine South in the state semifinals. Persin credited team chemistry and energy as factors for their success, while Kenady, a junior, echoed his pride in the team’s efforts and determination to return for future finals.

As the season ended, Kenady, one of the three junior starters, expressed the desire to achieve more in the future, signaling the team’s continued commitment to excel.