Jade Jackson

Jade Jackson

AVON PARK, Fla.–March 31, 2015–Saturday was a special day at SFSC’s Panther Field as over 250 people watched Jade Jackson, sporting a new Panther home Jersey with her name on it, open the Panther baseball game by throwing the first pitch with all her family circled around the mound.

The event hosted by SFSC’s Athletic Department raised $1,446 for the Jade Jackson Fund, which supports the 16-year-old daughter of Jackie and Greg Jackson, who is battling brain cancer. The Jackson family has many ties to Panther Athletics. Jade’s brothers, Kyle and Ty, played baseball for SFSC, and her grandfather, Clay Gooch, coached Panther baseball for 15 years.

“It was our pleasure to have Jade Jackson and her family as our guest on Saturday,” said Rick Hitt, SFSC Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach. “My hope was to hopefully have her just enjoy the day with her family, and share some time with family and friends. If for just a little while she felt special or simply just enjoyed herself that was the goal.”

“I hope the small amount of money raised can help with something, but the ultimate goal was for Jade to have an enjoyable day,” Hitt said. “I would like thank everyone who came out in support of this event, our coaches, and our student athletes who helped as well.”

The Panthers swept the doubleheader from the University of Tampa B winning game one 3-2 and game two 5-4 in extra innings.