Message from Assistant Director of Sports Information Trevor Wenners: Interested in getting to know the ins and outs of what make your favorite LaGrange College student-athletes tick? Our dedicated and loyal fans will be able to get an up-close look at the personalities and dreams of our student-athletes.
You cannot ask for a more complete batter than Jack Layrisson.
The senior on the LaGrange College baseball team is difficult to game plan against because he has every tool in his repertoire. The Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, native can hit for power, get on base at a high percentage, has a great eye and is clutch with runners on base.
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During his three-year career in a Panther uniform from 2018-20, Layrisson has maintained a .525 slugging percentage, a .421 on-base percentage and a .337 batting average in 103 games. He has compiled 127 hits, 90 RBIs, 77 runs, 56 walks, 20 doubles, 12 triples and nine home runs during 377 at-bats.
The outstanding student-athlete has recorded 39 multi-hit games, 12 three-hit efforts and one four-hit performance, while tallying four or more RBIs in five games. He went 4-for-4, with a triple and run, during a 5-4 triumph over Covenant on March 23, 2019, at Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium.
Layrisson blasted two home runs at Huntingdon on March 8, 2019. The two home runs in a single game are tied for the most in program history. Layrisson's seven triples during the 2018 season are tied for the third most in the team's record book. He ranks fifth in career triples with 12.
Layrisson is an incredible talent, but what makes him an all-around great player is his willingness to do whatever it takes to win. That team-first philosophy has always been a staple at LaGrange during head coach David Kelton's seven years at the helm of the program.
Individual accolades and records are recognized, but the program prioritizes wins, championships, getting better each day and coming together as a cohesive unit. That mindset has produced tangible results, as the Panthers won three-straight USA South Championships and qualified for three-consecutive NCAA Division III Tournaments from 2017-19.
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Layrisson was a focal point of the 2018 and 2019 teams. The even-keeled individual brings his game to another level in pressure-packed games. He went 7-for-14, with five RBIs, two doubles, two walks and a run, in four USA South Tournament games during the 2019 season.
Layrisson earned MVP honors for the 2018 USA South Tournament and was named to the All-Tournament Team in 2019.
During his time sporting the red and black, the Panthers have compiled a 74-35 overall record and a 32-14 mark in the USA South, while going a perfect 8-0 in the conference tournament. During the 2018 campaign, Layrisson earned the conference's Rookie of the Year award and All-Conference Honorable Mention Team honors.
The 6-foot, 195-pound competitor has also developed into a strong defensive player, maintaining a .959 fielding percentage in his career. He did not record a single error in 17 games during the abbreviated 2020 season, finishing with 31 putouts and one assist.
Layrisson took some time to speak about a variety of topics in a Q&A segment.
Q: What makes coach Kelton unique?
A: What makes coach Kelton unique is the way he has built and maintained our culture. Obviously, he is a great coach that holds the program to a high standard every day. Coach Kelton is fantastic at building relationships with the players. He is a friend and role model. He is always honest with us no matter what the situation may be and makes it a point to ensure we are all on the same page. The biggest thing he has done for me is being a consistent example of accountability and responsibility. Our conversations off the field have developed me into the mature man that I am today.
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Q: What do you remember most about winning the USA South Championships in 2018 and 2019?
A: Each USA South crown was an experience that I will be proud of my entire life. I will always remember coming together with my incredible teammates, believing in being a part of something larger than ourselves and achieving our goals together. Both runs are special for different reasons.
During the 2018 run, we were not even sure if we were going to make it to the tournament, but we dug ourselves into the trenches together and defended our home field against the top-ranked conference teams that season to prove that we were the best in the conference. The second run, we wanted to prove that we were the best team every time we played. The whole time our focus was on making it to the NCAA Regional Tournament. No matter what punches we took, we knew we would battle through it together.
Q: What is your thought process at the plate?
A: At the plate, I take pride in being a threat to the opposing team. If the pitcher makes a mistake, I can punish him with power. If he executes his pitches, I can battle out a single or a walk and get on base for the team. This means a great deal to me because our goal offensively is to apply relentless pressure to the opposing team. I want to be a source of constant pressure throughout the game.
Q: Would you rather get the game-winning hit or make a highlight play in the field to secure a win?
A: The game-winning hit.
Q: Where do you envision yourself in five years?
A: Still pursuing my dream of playing in the MLB.
Q: Who is your favorite MLB player of all time?
A: Barry Bonds
Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lagrange.edu.
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