2023 December Warrior web

Jason Willis S tandout P itcher I nducted in to A thletic H all of F ame

Jason Willis (’99) of Philadelphia honed his skills as a pitcher and helped propel the 1998 East Central Community College Diamond Warriors to the college’s first ever baseball championship before being drafted by the New York Yankees. In recognition of his outstanding career, he joined an elite group of men and women in the ECCC Ath letic Hall of Fame. “I’m beyond excited,” Willis said of his induction. “This is such an honor at a place that has been such a special part of my life.” Willis spent two years at East Central as a member of the Warrior baseball team, led by

Following that record-setting game against Northeast Mississippi Community College in the Region 23 Tournament, Coach Clark was quoted in the newspaper saying, “My only gripe with Willis is that his momma and daddy didn’t have twins when they had him. Eighteen strikeouts and two walks in a playoff is almost unbelievable. There is not a whole lot you can say other than when we offered him a scholarship two years ago, maybe we made the right decision.” Earlier in the 1999 season, Willis threw a no-hitter against Southwest Mississippi Community College, the first no-hitter for an

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then head coach Jamie Clark and assistants Neal Holliman and Lee Eady. “East Central was the only place

EC pitcher since 1996. That game was his fourth career shutout, an ECCC record at the time. In addition to

I’ m forever grateful for the time I had in D ecatur ...I’ m proud of the family and the life we have built , and it all started at EC!

that offered me a scholarship. Coach Clark believed in me and he seemed to get the most out of his players. He told me before my freshman season that if I would listen to him, he would get me where I wanted to be. For some crazy reason, I believed him!” Willis said. After prepping at Neshoba Central High School, he was a member of the 1998 team that won the college’s first State Championship and the Diamond Warriors made back-to back trips to the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament during his two-year stint and finished as runners-up in 1999. Neal Holliman, current ECCC head baseball coach and as sistant on the 1998 team, said, “I think Jason’s selection to the Hall of Fame is very well deserved. He is one of the most talented pitchers I’ve ever had the privilege of coaching, and while his stats on the field speak for themselves, what truly sets him apart is the person he has become off the field. What speaks to his true character is his devotion as a husband and father, and his work as a youth pastor and with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which is having a profound impact on the young people of his community.” A right-handed pitcher/first baseman, Willis boasted a 10-2 record during his freshman season at East Central while earning East Central’s and the MACJC South Division’s Most Valuable Player Award. He was named All-State and All-Region. He also posted a .337 average at the plate with 13 home runs and was a 24th-round draft pick of the New York Yankees. During his sophomore season in 1999, Willis finished with a 10-5 record and led Region 23 in strikeouts with 127. Willis set a Region 23 Tournament record by striking out 18 men in a single game. He allowed only four hits and two walks during that game and also hit a two-run homer. He was again named All-State and All-Region. “

outstanding little league and high school coaches, Willis had a phenomenal support team at home and said his parents, Linda Willis and the late Derrell Willis, never missed a game in high school and hardly ever missed a college game. But he said ECCC coach Jamie Clark will always be the one that pushed him the farthest in baseball. “I don’t think I would have made it as far as I did without his influence. He just seemed to pull every bit of talent out of me. As a team it was all go and no quit from day one. I remember it was raining the first day of practice my fresh man year. We were gathered in the locker room and Coach Clark came in and said ‘Do y’all know what we do when it’s raining? We get wet!’ That was the mindset. We will be working when all the other teams around the state are sit ting in their dorms.” Reminiscing about his playing days, Willis said there are countless memories that pop up of specific games or plays, former players and special moments, including winning the championship on East Mississippi’s field in Scooba and the record-breaking game at MCC. He said there are tons of things that made that place and those team special. “Setting the K record couldn’t have meant more to me at the time. Just a couple days before, I got knocked out of a game against Delgado after the first inning. Coach Clark told me to get my head together that he would need me again in a couple days. The next game came against North east came and I was able to redeem myself. It felt great!” Multiple members of the 1998 squad went on to play at the next level. Willis, who originally signed with Ole Miss, opted to sign with the Yankees and spent several years in the organization’s minor league including being part of the NY Penn League’s 2001 Championship squad. –WILLIS continued on page 14

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