Dream and a Swing

KENNY JACKSON’S JOURNEY TO REPRESENT THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS IN WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC TOURNAMENT

BY COOPER HACK ’25

Last October, Skyhawk Rafael “Kenny” Jackson III ’25 took the field representing not only Point University, but also his home country, the U.S. Virgin Islands, at the World Baseball Classic-sanctioned 6th Caribbean Baseball Cup in the Bahamas. For Jackson, getting the chance to play the game he loves so passionately on the international stage while representing the country he calls home was more than a dream opportunity. The opportunity to represent his island country in this prestigious event gives a much-deserved spotlight to his hard work, dedication, talent and deep love for his homeland.

A Star at Point and Beyond

Jackson’s journey to play for his national team has been fed by his continued hard work, hours in the gym and perseverance. Last season, in his first year as Point’s right fielder, he established himself as a player to watch, not only in the conference, but in the nation. With a batting average of .339, 10 home runs, 49 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases, Jackson earned first-team all-conference honors in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC), along with the highly respected gold glove at his position in the field. His athleticism and reliability made him a stronghold in the Skyhawk lineup and a standout from the rest. For Jackson, though his feet are currently planted in West Point finishing his senior year, his goals reach much higher than just representing his university. Wherever he is playing, he is determined to represent his country with pride.

“It’s always a great feeling being able to go and represent your country in any way,” Jackson says. “I was just happy that this team was able to go play our hearts out and make everyone at home proud.”

Being in the 6th Caribbean Baseball Cup means playing against high-level competition from countries such as the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and Curaçao. The tournament’s games are all meaningful, with high stakes and extremely competitive play. Most teams have players with professional experience under their belts. Jackson, a fierce competitor himself, viewed the opportunity as more than just competition. It was a chance to dive back into his roots, share the game he loves with others from all over the world, and shine as a role model for younger generations of kids from the U.S. Virgin Islands who have dreams of playing baseball.

Hard Work Doesn’t Stop

Jackson’s story with baseball didn’t start at Point, of course. From a young age, growing up in the U.S. Virgin Islands, he was instilled with important values for anyone who wants to play baseball at a high level: hard work and determination. Since he was a teen, he has been blessed with the opportunity of playing for his country’s national team in various international events. This includes his time playing last year in the 5th Caribbean Baseball Cup. These experiences have given him a deep respect and pride in his heritage, along with the passion to give his all every time he steps on the field, no matter the location.

“It’s always special being able to go out there and play for your country,” Jackson says. “I have been blessed with opportunities like this since the age of 15. Winning is a goal we have, and it’s a goal we are still currently chasing.”

The commitment to excellence being shown is what has pushed Jackson from a young baseball player to an elite-level athlete in international and collegiate baseball. His endless drive inspires everyone around him, including his teammates and coaches, who all see the relentless effort that he brings day in and day out.

Paul Hack, owner of the Casper Spuds collegiate summer league team in Wyoming, which Jackson played for, witnessed the dedication with his own eyes.

“Seeing players from all over the world is exciting. To have one work so hard putting in extra time to achieve their goals and dreams is extremely rewarding to be a part of when it pays off with success on the field,” Hack says.

Jacksons for Generations on National Team

A part of the experience for Jackson that makes representing his country a little extra meaningful is being able to do it alongside his father, a former professional baseball player and currently a coach of the U.S. Virgin Islands national team. This has given the two of them a special father-son dynamic that adds to the sentiment of the experience.

“Being out there with my pops, it’s different,” Jackson says. “He is just my coach during those games, but being able to have those memories as father and son is always a true blessing.”

Having his father at his side strengthened Jackson’s sense of purpose and pride. The two of them have shared many moments on the field, celebrating victories, discussing strategy and navigating stressful situations that the game of baseball brings. These experiences have brought them closer as father and son, building a strong bond that is rooted in the shared love for representing their country and the game.

Beyond the wins and losses, Jackson’s career has been built on the foundation of faith, family values and love for his country. Every opportunity to play the game is an opportunity to respect both.

The Caribbean Baseball Cup

The Caribbean Baseball Cup is not just any baseball tournament. It is an international competition that involves many of the Caribbean countries’ national teams, with high talent levels and high stakes of qualifying for future global baseball events. The U.S. Virgin Islands has a smaller baseball community than most of the other countries that participate in the tournament.

With the smaller baseball community, the U.S. Virgin Islands is often overshadowed by the nations of the Caribbean that have a larger baseball culture, such as the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas. So this opportunity proves to be invaluable to the country, as it gives them the opportunity to play against some of the best teams from that part of the world.

This year’s tournament was held in the Bahamas, which attracted multiple high-talent players from all over the Caribbean. Jackson enjoyed shining the spotlight on his home country and giving it more visibility in the baseball world.

The level of competition is no joke when the tournament gets rolling. “Every game in a tournament like this is tough,” Jackson says. “You’re going up against players who have been playing at high levels for years. But it’s a great way to challenge yourself and see where you stand.”

Leadership that Lasts

Over the past few years, Jackson’s role on the U.S. Virgin Islands national team has evolved from a young player looking for leadership to a seasoned veteran and leader for others himself. The experience and positive attitude he carries have proven to be influential on the team, guiding younger teammates. Justin Estrada, a teammate of Jackson’s on the national team, praised his leadership, noting how his focus and preparation for the games ahead were a key part in keeping the team focused during the 6th Caribbean Baseball Cup.

“Kenny being a vet was vital in getting the whole team to focus on the goal of winning it all, which we came just short of,” Estrada notes. “Jackson’s pregame was always locked in, whether it was hitting in cages, stretching or playing catch.”

These leadership qualities go further than just his national team; they also play a key factor in his role here at Point.

“This year at Point, I am looking forward to having fun with my teammates and coaches and accomplishing our main goal, which is winning a championship,” Jackson says of his final season at the University. His commitment to the team is clear on and off the field, and all of his teammates view him as a leader and captain of camaraderie for the team.

In many ways, one can look at Jackson’s story and see the power that mentoring can have on someone, with him both receiving mentoring and returning it to others around him. He hopes his story can serve as a sense of inspiration to the younger generations of baseball players back home in the U.S. Virgin Islands, showing them that continued hard work and dedication takes you to your dreams.

Inspiring the Next Generations

As Jackson reflects on the journey it took him to get here, he knows that it is about more than just his own personal achievements. One day, when Jackson takes his final at-bat in a game, he doesn’t plan to allow his baseball journey to stop there. His influence on the younger generation back home on the Islands will be felt for years to come.

As a senior at Point and one of the team leaders, Jackson does a great job of embracing his role as a mentor, instilling the team’s culture of perseverance and toughness into the younger players who will eventually be the leaders of the Skyhawks.

Jackson understands that winning every game is not the most important thing at the end of the day. Rather, the path he has been trailblazing for others is most important. He is actively involved in youth programs when he is at home in the U.S. Virgin Islands, including baseball training, but also mental training or mentoring sessions. The mental side of the training sessions is “just as important as any rep with the bat or glove,” Jackson says. The U.S. Virgin Islands may be a small nation without a lot of widely known baseball culture, but Jackson has proven that it is not all about the size of the talent pool. It is more about the commitment and willingness to do what it takes to achieve your goals. That is what is most important.

Cooper Hack ’25, of Casper, Wyoming, is a communication major and baseball player at Point. He wrote this feature article for a Media Writing course.