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Jeter wins Hardison Award
By JUSTIN LAMB
jlamb@c-dh.net
Spring Hill’s Jerry Jeter spent his entire senior baseball season honoring the memory of his teammate and best friend Kris Hardison, who died on Sept. 13.
 | Courtesy Photo
Sandy Hardison presents Spring Hill’s Jerry Jeter with a check for $1,000 after he received the inaugural Kris Hardison Award of Excellence.
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Now Jeter will get to continue his tribute to his friend in college after receiving the inagural Kris Hardison Award of Excellence.
“I don’t know what to say about it,” Jeter said. “That was my best friend and I’d much rather he’d be here, but it’s an honor to get the first award given out for him.”
Jeter received a $1,000 scholarship for earning the award. The Spring Hill Diamond Club and the Hardison family each contributed $500 dollars toward the scholarship.
“Jerry is very deserving of this award, not only is he a great baseball player, but a great student and role model for others,” said Kris’ mom Sandy Hardison. “These are the qualities Kris shared with us all, therefore it’s very much an honor for our family that he was the recipient for this year.”
The award will be given annually to a senior Spring Hill baseball player, who has a 3.0-or-better grade point average, is heading to college and is a team player and leader. The candidates must also present three letters of recommendation and write a 500-word essay. The plaque, which was donated by Jones & Lang Sporting Goods, will be hung at Spring Hill High.
“That was huge for (Jeter),” said Spring Hill coach Paul Lamm. “They were best friends for many years and I know (the award) really means a lot to him.”
Jeter’s scholarship money will be used at Columbia State where the Raider standout recently signed to play baseball.
“It’s been a goal that I’ve had since I started playing baseball when I was 3,” Jeter said. “To reach this goal in my life is an awesome thing.”
Jeter was an integral player for Spring Hill as he helped lead the Raiders to a record-breaking season. The past year Spring Hill claimed its first regular season district baseball championship and also won a school-record 26 games while playing in Hardison’s memory.
“I think it all contributed to him,” Jeter said of Hardison. “The year before we had the same players ... we just didn’t have much desire. We really had something to play for (this year).”
During his senior season, Jeter batted .395 with four home runs, 27 runs batted in and 12 doubles.
“He was a huge bat for us,” Lamm said. “The kid can flat out hit. I don’t see any reason why he couldn’t do that at the collegiate level.”
Lamm also thinks Jeter’s versatility will aid him at Columbia State. Jeter played all the positions on the field with the exception of catcher during his career at Spring Hill.
“The best thing about Jerry is that he is a versatile guy,” Lamm said. “That was a luxury that we had being able to play him in so many spots.”
Jeter is hopeful his career will follow that of former Columbia State star Chris Lovett, who drafted last week by the Atlanta Braves.
“I’m hoping to fall in the lines of Chris Lovett,” Jeter said. “We’ll see what happens.”
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