Leave No Doubt
Ridge Point's Biggers one game away from dream
Ashton Jeanlewis
Jun 29, 2018, 10:48 pm
Jax Biggers is the starting shortstop for the Razorbacks in the College World Series Vype
Four years ago, Jax Biggers was a senior at Ridge Point High School playing baseball and football. He played integral roles in both teams' success. As one of Ridge Point's best receivers and one of the baseball teams most consistent hitters with .425 average and fielders, Biggers wasn't highly coveted by college scouts.
Despite the lack of offers, Biggers wasn't deterred from his passion for baseball and chose the difficult path of junior college, playing for Cisco Community College. It was his opportunity to show off the skills he'd spent his life honing.
Lead by the mantra of LND or "Leave No Doubt," Biggers is still playing at a high level just like his high school days.
Four years later, Jax Biggers is the starting shortstop for the Arkansas Razorbacks in the College World Series. looking to claim a national championship. His persistence and relentless passion for the game has paid off two fold. Biggers was also drafted during the Super Regional in the 8th round to the Texas Rangers.
"I never needed to be motivated to play baseball," he said. "It’s what I love to do. Being at the juco level just gave me time to get bigger, faster and stronger. When I got to Arkansas, just playing in the SEC and being around guys who have the same goals as you, is enough to be motivated. If you even need to be motivated," said Biggers.
Biggers' first year with the Razorbacks saw him put together one of the best seasons he's ever produced. He had the 7th highest batting average in the SEC as a sophomore and that was just a precursor to the 2018 season for Arkansas. He and his teammates have dominated the postseason, losing only twice. On the way to the College World Series, the Razorbacks defeated the No. 1 team in the country -- the Florida Gators twice, eliminated perennial contender Texas Tech and averaged eight runs per game.
"I knew the guys coming back from last year that we were special," he said. "About three weeks into the fall, the freshmen made themselves known. That’s when I knew we had a legitimate chance to win this thing," Biggers said.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.