By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com

CHINA GROVE — Jayven Parks, Carson’s talented center fielder and a recent Belmont Abbey College signee, could give lectures on perseverance.

At 6-foot-3 and a well-distributed 200 pounds, Parks, who just turned 18, looks like he was born to be a star, but he didn’t always look this way.

He was cut from his sixth-grade baseball team.

“Lost some confidence, so I didn’t try out at all in the seventh grade,” Parks said. “Stayed away from baseball for a while and thought maybe basketball would be the game for me.”

There was a reason to think that. His father, WJ Parks, was a very good high school basketball player who helped South Rowan have a winning season and make the state playoffs when he was a senior in 2006. And that was the 4A playoffs. South was still a large school then. Carson opened a few miles away from South in the fall of 2006.

As an eighth-grader, Parks gave baseball a second chance. This time he made the squad. That was encouraging, although he still spent more time on the pine than on the field.

When he arrived at Carson, basketball and baseball were still about even for him, but his baseball talent started to kick in when he was a sophomore playing for the Carson jayvees. He was getting his reps in the field and getting his timing at the plate. His body was transforming and his confidence was growing. He was faithful to the grind that baseball requires and his ability was starting to show.

Kyle Bridges, who was Carson’s head coach, noticed, and Parks was elevated to help the varsity late in the 2023 season.

In the second round of the 3A state playoffs, Carson got outstanding pitching from Mikey Beasley and Hayden Simmerson, and a solo homer from Simmerson, and was down 2-1 going to the seventh inning at Kings Mountain.

The lead-off man got on base. After a sacrifice bunt and a punch-out, Carson had the tying run at second base but was down to its last out. Bridges had so much faith in Parks that he sent him to the plate to pinch hit.

The moment wasn’t too big for him. Parks hit a rope.

It would have tied the game, but the Kings Mountain first baseman made a terrific snag. Carson’s season was over, but the fact that a coach had trusted him with everyone’s season on the line spoke volumes to Parks.

“Baseball became my passion my junior year,” Parks said. “I couldn’t get enough of it.”

By the fall of 2023, Parks was playing for a South Charlotte Panthers showcase team, playing with and against elite players.

By the time his junior season at Carson rolled around in February 2024, Bridges was confident that Parks would have a sensational season for the Cougars. With Simmerson gone, Parks was the program’s most talented player.

Parks didn’t disappoint anyone. He started the season 8-for-12 at the plate and didn’t cool off much. High school baseball seasons are short and mostly cold and the Cougars play in a league full of aces, but Parks batted .397 with 31 hits, four homers, eight doubles and 24 RBIs.

“My best game was at Central Cabarrus — two homers,” Parks said. “It’s hard to hit homers at Carson, but I try to drive the ball to the gaps.”

As his senior season begins, new Carson head coach JC Alexander is hoping for even more from Parks.

Carson has a small senior class of seven, so Alexander points out that Parks’ leadership will be as important as his RBIs, his diving catches and his stolen bases.

“Jayven is  a champion in the weight room, and he’s added bulk and strength by lifting since last year when he played at 185,” Alexander said. “He’s a high-average hitter with power, and I’ve been his outfield position coach for a while so I can tell you he’s more than a hitter. He runs well. He throws well. He’s a big asset for us in center field.”

Parks may even pitch some for the Cougars this season, but only time will tell.

Parks credits Bridges with making the first connection with Belmont Abbey. Belmont Abbey is coached by Catawba graduate Chris Amderson, who has recruited several Rowan players over the years.

“Coach Bridges sent off a lot of videos to a lot of schools,” Parks said. “Belmont Abbey was really interested. I like the school and the coaches. It should be a great fit for academics and for baseball.”