Jason Baxter

Jason Baxter

USSSA Playing History 2009-Present

USSSA Playing History 2004

GoSoftball.com Player Page

Major Watch List

Who are you playing with in 2015?
Buzini/CASports/BWW/Miken

2014 Interview

What positions do you play and what is your best position?
1st, Catcher, EH.. I can play outfield but I wouldn't last long..

Who is the best softball player you have ever seen play?
Way to many to just pick 1. I can remember watching Bruce Meade, Jimmy Fuller and those guys at the Pic O Dixie when I was a kid and they all looked like monsters and could hit it a mile.

Why do you like the game of softball?
10 years ago my answer would have been different, but now it's for the friends I have and will make to come

Who is the best up and coming player in softball and why?
Again too many to pick 1, but if I had to I would say Mattie Crawford. Great hands and plays hard, but I'm bias because he has played on my teams for 6 or 7 years and he is still in his 20's he's like a little brother to me.

What is your nickname in softball and how did you get it?
Baxter or Nickleback. I've been #05 since 2000.

What is your height and weight?
6'4"  275lbs and headed to 300

Where do you call home?
Murfreesboro TN

What's your favorite way to spend an off weekend?
With my son and wife watching him play ball. He's 8 now and really getting into it.

What do you do for a living?
Construction

Did you play sports in High School / College / Pro?
High School Baseball

How did you get your start in softball and how did you get to the upper level?
I was sitting at home in 2003 and Brian Higginbotham was at Disney fixing to play in the Major with Sunnyvale/Budwieser/Fairweather Sports. Their Center fielder (King) broke a bone I think his collar bone the day before. He called me and ask if I could come play, so I jumped on a plane and headed down. I got picked up the following year by Mt. Top

What was the most surprising difference between Conference play and non-Conference play when you made the jump?
Not being able to pick out the weakest person on the team and hit it to them.. At that level and Conf. play if you make a mistake your out.. Not many weak links in the game today

What would you say is your career highlight to this point? Maybe one play or game that sticks out to you in particular?
Winning the A world last year with Reebok..

In your career was there a single person (player/manager/coach) who had the most significant impact on your approach to the game? Why?
Brian Higginbotham as a friend/player taught me alot.. I remember him saying stick to your commitments even if you don't like it. Don't be a team jumper and you will be fine. John Rector as a coach. People can say what they want, but he knows the game and how to use his guys to win.  

What advice can you give a young player trying to break into the upper level?
Hit, Hit, Hit and listen to the old guys they didn't get there by luck.

What type of batting grip do you use and what ounce bat?
Pinky finger overlay

What do you do in the offseason to prepare for the next softball season?
This year Cancer treatments for 6 months…. Before that I lift and hit

What is your favorite sports team and your favorite sport other than softball?
Baseball…. Yankees

Do you have any superstitions and if so, what are they?
none. I pray for safety before each game, but I don't want to call that a superstition

What would be your "at bat" music selection?
none.. I've already got to much going on in my head when i step in the box. The last thing i need is to be singing a song while trying to hit a Purcell Knuckle Ball

What is the best improvement upper level softball could make?
I'm not sure I will leave that up to Sr.

What is your favorite non-World tournament and why?
Smoky because i can usually talk my wife into going if we stay in Gatlinburg after it's over for a day or 2

What is the best softball field/complex you have played at and why?
Disney.. I hit at some really nice ones on the Bombers tour. Citi Field is my Favorite.

Where is the best place to eat on the road after a game?
Texas Roadhouse

What is the funniest thing you have ever seen on a softball field?
Jason Branch kicked a trash can last year in Chicago and it as full of everything you can imagine. It completely drenched Crawford from head to toe.  Mattie was so pissed, but it was funny.

Tell us something about you that most would never know about you?
I'm a firm believer in church and God.. Alot of times my mouth gets me into trouble and I act like an idiot.. I'm working on that 🙂

What was your favorite sports related gift you have ever given or received?
Dustin Roberts (my little brother)  gave me a full size nickle plated bat last year for my B-day with our names on it.