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Justin Moses signs with Jefferson College before first season at Jackson
Before senior Justin Moses begins his first and only season at Jackson, he will secure the next two years of his baseball career by signing his letter of intent to play at Jefferson Community College.
Jefferson Community College was the only school to recruit Moses. It’s not a bad place to be recruited to in Missouri. The Vikings have won the Junior College World Series four times, most recently in 2018.
“JeffCo is a hot bed for good baseball,” Charleston Fighting Squirrels coach Michael Minner said. “It’s one of the best junior colleges in the nation.”
Jefferson College was 16-9 before the season shut down due to the pandemic. They had 17 players continue to other schools, including eight Division-I schools.
“I look to him being an impact player at JeffCo and then ultimately get an opportunity to continue his baseball career and education after that,” Minner said.
Minner has a good relationship with JeffCo, both the current coaching staff and previous. He has multiple players go on to play there after high school. Three players signed this year including Charleston ace Luke Nichols, who had a 1.68 earned run average and 55 strikeouts over 33 1/3 innings with the Fighting Squirrels.
Moses was a key part in leading the Fighting Squirrels to victory in the Southern Invitational Series this past summer. It was there where the recruiting process began. The coaching staff at JeffCo and were impressed by his play after seeing him in Festus and contacted Minner soon after.
Minnersaid what stands out to him is Moses’ maturity.
“He’s like having a coach on the field.” Minner said. “He’s a good role model for the young kids watching. He’s one of a kind. In a clutch situation he’s one of those guys I want in there.
“He’s one of those kids who shows up early to take ground balls, plays the game and then hitting in the cage afterwards. He’s one of those kids that really leaves a mark on our program.”
Moses told Minner that he’ll back playing summer ball for the Fighting Squirrels after his senior year.
“We’re glad that he’s gonna be back. We look for him to be a guy that’s going to contribute to hit at the top of our order and continue to get better each day.”
Moses previously played at Poplar Bluff High School. He moved to Jackson after his junior year due to his engagement with Southeast Missouri State sophomore javelin thrower Jaden Kight. The couple is expecting a baby daughter this coming February.
Moses was shocked at how different the facilities were in Jackson compared to Poplar Bluff.
“You go to a Class 5 school, that’s what you expect to get,” Moses said. “When you come into Jackson, I was really blown away by how much they have, how much more resources. It’s a whole different ballgame.”
Jackson baseball coach Tatum Kitchen said he was impressed with how hard Moses works out in the weight room.
“He’s extremely mature, extremely hardworking,” Kitchen said. “From what I see in the weight room he gets after it. I’m just impressed with how he does in the weight room and in the workouts.”
What stood out to Moses the most about Jackson was not just the facilities but the people.
“I think the biggest difference for me right now, especially in the team, especially is the work ethic that I see out of the guys and the support that we get from the coaching staff,” Moses said. “Especially me, coming in because they all knew my situation, my circumstances. They’ve all done everything they could to make sure I felt welcomed and that I felt that I was in the right spot and they would their absolute best to get as good as I can be.”
Kight is expected to graduate by the time Moses finishes with his two years in JeffCo. After that it’s anybody’s guess.
“Honestly, wherever if I get offers after my two years, wherever that takes us,” Moses said.