Tallahassee Roots Reach the College World Series
Jason Jackson grew up in Havana, just outside Tallahassee, watching Florida State’s College World Series runs as a kid. He later starred at Florida High before embarking on a coaching journey that has taken him to the heart of Alabama’s baseball program.
In his ninth season as Alabama’s pitching coach, Jackson has helped the Crimson Tide assemble a rotation that finally clicks on the national stage. The team opens its CWS campaign against Oklahoma, a matchup that will be streamed live on ESPN, and enters the tournament on a five‑game win streak.
Joining Jackson in Omaha are fellow Tallahassee products Brady Neal, a senior catcher and leading hitter, and Hayden McNeil, who together give the lineup a local flavor. Former MLB and FSU standout Devon Travis has praised the staff’s reliable starters and a bullpen that has tightened up late in games.
Alabama’s path has not been defined by offensive fireworks; the team ranks near the bottom of the conference in batting average and slugging percentage. Yet the coaching staff, led by two‑time World Series champion David Ross, sees the tournament as a chance to prove that pitching and defense can still win championships.
For the city of Tallahassee, the presence of multiple alumni in Omaha is a source of pride. Their stories illustrate how youth baseball programs in the capital region can feed talent into the highest levels of collegiate play, and they hope to bring a first national title back to the state.