By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL/Designated Writers
On the final day before he and his teammates traveled more than 2,000 miles to play in the most important weekend event of their baseball lives, there was one very predictable place you could have found Northwestern State junior pitcher Nathan Jones.
Not working on things in the bullpen. Not looking at spray charts. Not reviewing video.
Instead, it was the place you can usually find Jones when the Demons are not playing.
Bass fishing.
“It’s relaxing for me,” Jones said. “Anytime I’m not playing baseball or studying, I’m usually fishing somewhere.”
Fishing offers Jones the peace and solitude away from the pressure of being one of the NSU starting pitchers. The right-hander has been through a lot in his baseball career, but fishing doesn’t worry about arm slot or spin rate or how to get out of a bases-loaded jam.
It gives him the chance to think about how he has developed during his baseball career. From being an All-State selection to getting a last-minute scholarship offer. From getting the win in his first college game and a save against a College World Series team to a sophomore year when nothing seemed to go right.
From being a Friday night starter – usually considered to be a college team’s No. 1 pitcher – to having to move into a new role as the Sunday starter.