By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer
garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
Jackson Richard, first baseman for the Woodruff baseball team, signed to play collegiately with Erskine College last week, marking yet another Wolverine baseball player who will compete at the next level.
A sure-handed defender and Woodruff’s RBI leader this past season, Richard found a home with the Flying Fleet and knew Erskine was a good fit for him.
“Erskine wouldn’t even be an opportunity for me without Coach (Wesley) Brown helping me get to this point in the first place,” Richard explained. “When I went on the visit to Erskine, I was very drawn to the fact that they are a Christian school. Being a part of a Christian community in a school is something you don’t often find. Once the coaches told me the guys do meetings on Wednesday and talk about the Lord, it really gave me so much interest in the school.”
He continued, “I just knew it was the right place for me, just getting to talk to the coaches and seeing how much they cared for the players, and them wanting to see everyone compete, which I love to do. They also have a really good scheme for hitting, and that’s what I love to do, is hit.”
Jackson was certainly among the leaders for the Wolverines at the plate in 2026, helping lead Woodruff to their first playoff district championship in over a decade. Richard finished with a .366 batting average and 31 runs driven in, which is the second-most all-time in a single season in program history. He finished third on the team in doubles with four.
Coach Brown says he is proud of Jackson and that coaching him has been a joy over the past four seasons, and notes that his lighthearted and humorous personality helped bring fun to the team.
“Jackson has always been a hard worker,” said Brown. “The funniest personality on the team in the four years I have been at Woodruff. And that is a compliment. He is as good a person as he is a baseball player. Jackson was the person we counted on the most in clutch situations this year when at the plate. His RBI total is a testament to buying into our system and putting it to use. I couldn’t be prouder of him for having the opportunity to fulfill his dream of playing college baseball.”
There was a time when Jackson was unsure if he would have a chance to play baseball collegiately, but he is grateful for his opportunity with Erskine.
“Personally, I never thought I would be here,” he said. “There was a point in time I was going to quit baseball, but God’s plan was different, so I kept playing ball. But just the fact that I have a chance to play college ball is a surreal moment. Ten-year-old me wouldn’t believe it for one second. I’m just thankful to have this opportunity, and I’m going to get the best out of it.”
