'Best senior class I've had': FAMU baseball grads taking final lap around Moore-Kittles Field

Pursuing a higher education on the Highest of Seven Hills can provide life-changing experiences.

The same could be said when one selects Florida A&M to further their athletic career.

Over the years, the Rattlers baseball players have gotten the best of both worlds, being educated at the top-ranked public Historically Black College and University and performing for a top Black College baseball team.

This weekend culminates college careers that include earning college degrees and winning FAMU’s first-ever Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball title last season.

FAMU hosts Mississippi Valley State in a three-game SWAC series from Thursday to Friday on Moore-Kittles Field. On Friday, 16 graduating Rattlers will be honored for Senior Day.

“Coming here was the best decision I’ve ever made,” said Evan Badger, FAMU’s catcher who transferred from Lake Sumter State College in 2022. “I’ve made lifelong friends and got memories to last a lifetime. I’ve loved every second of being with this team, the guys, and that camaraderie.

“Just a great time.”

Some FAMU players didn’t have to go far to form a new baseball brotherhood.

For example, Joseph Pierini, the Rattlers’ second baseball spent all four years at FAMU, joining the squad out of Wakulla High School in 2021. Pierini is one of four local products being honored, joined by Grant Harrison, True Fontenot, and Cameron Kelly.

Pierini has left his mark at FAMU, breaking the program’s single-season record with 21 doubles during the Rattlers’ SWAC Championship season a year ago.

“It’s been fun playing four years of college here, being a local guy. It means so much having my family be able to come and see almost all the home games we have,” Pierini said.

FAMU head baseball coach Jamey Shouppe has experienced Senior Day for the last 11 years while leading the program.

But that doesn’t make it any easier to stomach saying farewell to men who trusted him enough to spend their baseball career playing for him.

Shouppe hopes that through baseball, he instilled all the keys to success as his players enter the world.

“It’s going to be a hard Senior Day for me,” Shouppe said.

“All these kids are incredible human beings and will be missed. Hopefully, these guys will go on with their lives and be ultra-successful. I want every one of them to have a million-dollar attitude so they can be a millionaire.

“It’s probably the best group of seniors I’ve had.”

FAMU baseball seniors leaving a lasting impact on program

Janmikell Bastardo. Adam Haidermota. Grant Harrison. Joseph Pierini. Raylan Wagner.

It was a who’s who of players Shouppe spoke of when talking about his senior class. And if time allowed, he would’ve highlighted all 16 of his guys.

But Shouppe did have to take a moment to give props to FAMU leadoff hitter and centerfielder Ty Jackson, whom the coach deems his favorite player in his 32 years of coaching. Jackson is among the 16 players graduating from the Rattlers’ baseball program.

“Not only is he my favorite player, he’s everybody on this team’s favorite guy,” Shouppe said of Jackson. “He’s the one I’ll lose sleep over when I make the lineup next year and can’t put ‘Jackson’ at the top. He makes everyone around him better, refuses to be average, and always has a positive attitude ― that’s the sign of a true leader.

“By far, my favorite player. My wife says to get another one because she always hears me talk about Ty. I wish it were that easy.”

Having players whom Shouppe can speak highly of is a testimonial to the Rattlers’ success, such as earning the SWAC trophy and currently being the lead for the East Division title heading into their regular season finale.

“The group of guys we got is great,” Badger said. “We have a great chance to repeat as SWAC Champs.”

FAMU baseball seniors taking last dance on Moore-Kittles Field

There’ll be many emotions as the FAMU seniors play their final games on Moore-Kittles.

But Pierini will not shed tears, he said. Pierini says he may cry if the Rattlers win another SWAC Championship to reach the NCAA Regional again.

“Not this weekend,” Pierini said. “There may be in the future after we win the tournament, knowing that’s our last SWAC play. We’ll be happy we went out on a good note if we win it all.”

Shouppe said the only way he’d cry is if FAMU loses this weekend’s series to Mississippi Valley, which could cost the Rattlers from winning their first SWAC regular season title.

Instead, he’ll proudly watch his seniors get their final due in their last games on FAMU’s campus.

“I can’t do anything but smile,” Shouppe said. “It’s like going to your grandparents who blessed you throughout their lives’ funeral. You want to cry, but you don’t feel like that would do them justice by crying.

“You want to smile and say, ‘I’ve been blessed.’ Because I’ve been blessed to have these seniors and a group of guys.”

Florida A&M Rattlers Baseball Senior Day 2024 Honorees

• Evan Badger

• Janmikell Bastardo

• True Fontenot

• Andrew Ginther

• Sebastian Greico

• Adam Haidermota

• Grant Harrison

• Ty Jackson

• Cameron Kelly

• Joseph Pierini

• Josh Scragg

• Logan Sharpton

• Tre Simmons

• Jared Townsend

• Raylan Wagner

• Xerian Ximinies

FAMU will play against Mississippi Valley State at 5 p.m. Thursday and a doubleheader Friday starting at 1 p.m. on Moore-Kittles Field. Seniors will be honored on Friday between games.

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Baseball: Rattlers grads celebrating accomplishments at Senior Day