e-nnstopner Newport has everything that I want in a

e-nnstopner Newport has everything that I want in a school,” said Jenkins, who plans to major in history and go into teaching. “It has a good education department. It has D-l facilities at a D-3 school. The coaching staff is very knowledgeable. They were the national runner up a couple of years ago, and obviously, they want to get back to that level.”

Jenkins has been enjoying a stellar senior year for the Panthers. Two weeks ago against Page County, he tossed a two-hitter and struck out 15 in a 1-0 Rappahannock victory. It was the third time this season that he had struck out 10 or more batters in a game.

As a junior, the Bull Run District coaches tapped Jenkins All-District first team after he hit .451 with three home runs and 20 RBI. He also had a 6-2 record with 112 strikeouts and just 36 walks.

Those numbers, his play with his traveling baseball team, the Central Virginia String, attending summer camps, and a strong showing in a fall baseball showcase of some of Virginia’s best high school baseball players helped Jenkins attract plenty of interest from college recruiters.

“(College coaches) are not coming to Rappahannock to watch you play,” Jenkins added. “You need to call the coaches and tell them where you will be.”

The journey that Jenkins took also included visits to the many schools interested in his talent. At the end, he had to chose from Shenandoah, Eastern Mennonite, Christopher Newport or a walk-on role at Division I George Mason.

Rappahannock head baseball coach Jeff Jenkins, who is Jason’s father, said the process of helping his son win a chance to pitch at the collegiate level should assist him in working with other Rappahannock student-athletes.

“In the next few years, we have a couple of other players who could play at the college level,” Jeff Jenkins said. “I can talk better with those coaches and can get them to come and see our players.”

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