By Eric Lusk
Sports Editor
elusk@elkintribune.com
BOONVILLE -- Starmount pitcher Tyler Jackson has had plenty of college suitors on his recruiting trail the past several months.
Even a few pro scouts gave him a call following a strong performance in the State Games of North Carolina over the summer.
But Jackson decided to pull the trigger with one of the top schools on his list before even starting his senior year at Starmount. The 6-4 southpaw gave a verbal commitment to Appalachian State University this week.
The Mountaineers, coached by Chris Pollard, are one of the rising programs in the Southern Conference. After a pair of 10-win seasons in 2004 and 2005, ASU posted records of 24-31-1 in '06, 33-26 in '07 and 32-27 in '08.
The 2009 season will be Pollard's fifth at the helm.
Tribune File Photo * Tyler Jackson's pitching record was a sterling 9-0 with an ERA of 0.96 for Starmount this past spring. In 80 innings of work, he struck out 133 and gave up 35 total hits, 30 walks and 11 earned runs.
"He had heard from a lot of schools," Sharon Jackson, Tyler's mom, said Tuesday morning. "Carolina called the house twice. State called. He got a letter from Clemson and UNC-Wilmington. It's been a wonderful thing, but he's pretty much got a full ride up there (to ASU). The other schools offered but not that much.
FOR MORE OF THIS ARTICLE:
Sign Up | Log In | Upload Pics | Upload Videos | Contact Us | Shop Your School Store | Find Your School's Page
