The Shadow
LOW MOOR- For Alleghany baseball player Tyler Jackson, baseball has been around since he started playing the game at four years old.
Jackson has many friends and family that watch him play every night and there was one fan who would never miss a game: Robert Allen McCoy, Sr.–Jackson’s grandfather.
Robert was a fixture at his grandson’s sporting events his whole life until May of 2023 when he was diagnosed with cancer. Due to his intense treatments, Robert was not able to attend what he loved as often to watch who he loved as his health would just not allow it anymore.
Just over a week ago, on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, Robert passed away after his almost one-year battle with the disease.
“My grandfather and I were very close, and we both shared the love of baseball. He would come to every game that he could, and we would always talk about baseball when I went to my grandparents’ house,” Jackson explained.
Three days later, on April 19, The Alleghany Cougars baseball team was scheduled to play the Floyd County Buffaloes. However, that same day was Robert’s funeral, so Jackson dealt with an emotional afternoon and then headed to the field to play the game his grandfather adored. Even more, Jackson was scheduled to pitch in the contest.
What he proceeded to do is typically only seen in movies.
Once the game got underway, Jackson seemed to have his guardian angel on his shoulder while on the mound. He sat down the Floyd Co. hitters 1-2-3 in the first inning and then did the same in the second. And the same in the third. Then, the exact same thing in the fourth. Jackson carried a perfect game into the final inning before he allowed a single that ended what would have been a historic accomplishment. However, he retired the next two hitters and completed a 1-hit, complete game shutout with nine strikeouts.
It was a storybook moment that Jackson will never forget.
“It was the same day as the funeral,” Jackson said.
I didn’t know how I was going to perform under the circumstances, but my goal was to get the win on the mound,” he added.
Some people commented and said it may have been one of the best pitching performances they had ever seen, and for that, Jackson was absolutely thrilled he could make his mark on an otherwise emotional day.
“It makes me feel great because that game was dedicated to my grandfather and I will always remember that game,” Jackson stated.
Something else Jackson will remember is the camaraderie and caring teammates he shares the field with every day. According to the junior left-hander, they were a huge part of his support system.
“I am very thankful to have such great teammates,” Jackson said.
As soon as they found out what happened, they all gave me a hug and told me that if I needed anything that they were there for me and told me to play that game for him,” he continued.
After his impressive performance, Jackson was able to share another great moment along the fence with someone else special to him.
“When the game was over and the coaches were done talking about the game, I was greeted at the fence by my mom, and she was in tears and gave me a hug. She told me that my grandfather was with me tonight on the mound,” Jackson said.
With the Cougars approaching the postseason quickly, Jackson knows exactly what will keep him motivated to close out the year and to be the best version of himself that he can.
“I will be playing for him the remainder of the games this season,” Jackson concluded.
