THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Inola High School Athletics

It’s called taking one for the team, and Inola sophomore Jordan Spurlock has taken more than his share for the Longhorns this season. Spurlock has been hit by pitches to reach first base 30 times. That may seem to be a lot. In fact, it’s likely a national record. According to the National High School Sports Record Book, Choctaw’s Kenny Redding in 1965 and Nick LaCross of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, in 2015 were hit 29 times each. Inola coach Chad Cook said he’s submitting the paperwork to validate Spurlock’s record. Spurlock tied and broke the record Tuesday when he was hit leading off both games of a doubleheader at Catoosa. “You could tell my family and coaches and teammates were super excited, so that made it more exciting for me,” Spurlock said. According to Cook, Spurlock also tied the national single-game record by getting hit four times against Will Rogers on April 10. And with 24 last season, Spurlock is only 11 away from the national career record. Lucas Weitzel of Gainesville (Florida) Oak Hall was hit 65 times over four seasons (2009-12). Spurlock is hitting only .217, but throw in his 30 hit-batsman and nine walks and his on-base percentage jumps to a healthy .520. He leads the Longhorns with 22 runs. According to the Jonah Hill character in the baseball movie “Moneyball,” batting average is an overrated statistic. Spurlock would probably be one of Hill’s favorite players because: “He gets on base.” “I haven’t seen the movie, but a lot of people have mentioned it to me,” Spurlock said. What’s his secret? “He’s not a kid that leans into pitches,” Cook said. “He’s not doing anything illegal, but he will toe the line (of the batter’s box) and push the limit. He’s our leadoff hitter and he’s doing what he can to get things started.” One drawback for Spurlock, a receiver in football and point guard in basketball, is that he’s a left-hander who bats from the right side, meaning his pitching arm is directly exposed in the firing line. “He wears an arm guard to protect it but he gets beat up pretty good,” Cook said. “If he gets drilled in the arm, he’s still gotta go out on the mound and try to pitch. But he’ll take it in the spine, in the rear, anywhere it takes to get on base.”

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Inola High School Athletics

SPURLOCK SETS RECORD FOR GETTING HIT BY PITCH

MIKE BROWN

Tulsa World | 4/19/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Inola High School Athletics