Junior second basemen, Jasper Anderson, knows to never back down from adversity. Playing baseball and football at Crenshaw high school presented new challenges for him. Rising to the occasion by working hard helped him develop new skills and made him a reliable figure on both teams.
As a freshman, Anderson played as pitcher. Despite not having much success at that position, he continued pitching and saw improvement during his sophomore season.
Anderson also committed to improve in football the summer after his freshmen year, the varsity coaching staff would take notice of his efforts.
“I just worked hard and did very good,” he said. “That’s how I got my spot as the backup quarterback on varsity. Never let anybody tell you what you can’t do.”
Anderson’s favorite class is accounting because he likes dealing with money. Learning about assets and liabilities caused him to prioritize getting things that he needs over things that he wants.
If Anderson needs help with schoolwork, Crenshaw provides tutoring to keep him prepared for tests and assignments.
“They help me with stuff that I can’t get help [with] from home,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what class you take, they help you to get some of the stuff you need from your other classes.”
Playing football helps Anderson quickly round bases and make flyouts.
“For instance, you’re in the outfield and the ball gets hit over your head and say you play corner, it’s like an open up drill where you have to look for the ball to come over your head,” Anderson said. “You would just have to open up and back up to get the ball.”
When he was younger, Anderson started playing baseball at Van Ness Park. When he was playing T-ball, he would admire the older kids playing baseball. His mother soon signed him up for baseball.
“After that, the coaches have been on me because they saw in me that I didn’t see in myself yet,” Anderson said.
A key quality of the baseball team is their honesty, according to Anderson. Although they tend to argue with one another, their bond of brotherhood endures.
“This is a place where we can trust everybody, whatever is said on the baseball field stays on the baseball field,” Anderson said. “This is like my mini family, football and baseball, my school family.”
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