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Rounding the Bases with Jarrett Parker
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Jarrett Parker has recorded another outstanding season for the Virginia baseball team. The junior from Stafford, Va., is batting .338 with 10 home runs and 55 runs batted in. Fresh off Virginia’s second straight regional championship, Parker leads the Cavaliers into NCAA Super Regional play this weekend as UVa takes on Oklahoma in front of packed crowds at Davenport Field.
How does it feel to be coming off the program’s first NCAA Regional Championship in Charlottesville and be hosting Virginia’s first Super Regional?
Parker: It’s pretty cool to be able to play in front of all our fans with all the fan support this year, especially at the Regional. It has just been awesome. To come together and win that game [over St. John’s] was really great.
Speaking of fan support, you guys have increased the capacity at Davenport Field this season – what kind of impact has that had on the team?
Parker: I think it helps a lot. Any good play we make there are about 4,000 people cheering for us. It’s pretty cool.
Going into this postseason, the team has a different image on the national stage than it did at this time last year. How has this changed role affected the program?
Parker: I think the difference between last year and this year is that we are just more experienced. Between being the underdog and the hunted, I don’t think it really matters. Either way we are going to go play the same way we always do, so I don’t think that has any effect on us.
How is that experience affecting your postseason performance? How will it help you in the Super Regional ahead?
Parker: We know what it takes to get to the College World Series and win the College World Series. We have guys who have been there and I just think we are mentally a tougher squad this year.
This Virginia squad has the most wins in school history – what got you guys there?
Parker: We are good all around. We have great coaches who have done a great job with us this year. We have a lot of talent and we are a good ball club all together.
How does it feel to be drafted in the second round, 74th overall pick, to the San Francisco Giants?
Parker: Playing professional baseball has always been one of my dreams so to see it come true has been pretty cool.
Favorites
Food: Vietnamese food
Spot on Grounds: The Lawn
Baseball Memory: This whole season has been unbelievable.
Class: Sophomore year I took poetry writing with John Barr.
Website: break.com
Music: Sublime
Movie: The Godfather
Sports Team: San Francisco Giants
Celebrity: Rachel McAdams