At Jane Macon Middle School, northwest of Brunswick, is a young man who has baseball running through his veins. For eighth-grader Hunter Goff, baseball has long been a family tradition. When he was only 2 years old, his grandparents would take him to watch his uncles play college baseball.
“I always had my bat and ball to play with,” Goff said. Now he plays while one of those uncles, Jared Goff, coaches him and the rest of the Jane Macon Eagles baseball team.
“Hunter has every opportunity to be successful in life,” said Coach Goff, who has watched Hunter develop a love for baseball for nearly 14 years. “He has been blessed with natural abilities in athletics and academics, a likable personality, and a supportive family.”
Hunter was bitten by the baseball bug early, and as quickly as he could, he grabbed a glove and went to play. By the time he was 7, he had begun to play travel ball. Now, he has grown to be a 5’7” and 165-pound hard-throwing pitcher with a mean fastball and a quick bat that is preparing for high school sports next year. He plays pitcher, catcher, and shortstop for the Eagles. Each time he strides to the plate, Hunter says a quick prayer, draws a cross on the ground with the end of his bat and tells himself, “It’s my time to shine.”
Within three years of playing his first game, Hunter hit his first home run. Two years later, he pitched a no-hitter at just 12 years old. He is a player that can let his natural ability take over, which is a skill that takes time to develop.
“Luckily, he has been around baseball since he could open his eyes,” Coach Goff said. “He was constantly watching and playing the game at an early age. I attribute a lot of his ability to the fact that he doesn’t just play the game, he is a student of the game. When he was younger, he would notice when a player was out of position and ask why.”
But it is not just on the baseball field where he stands out. In the classroom, Hunter is also making good use of his time with a 3.4 grade point average and membership on the Honor Roll. He is also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Council, and the Junior Beta Club.
The son of Brent and Kassie Goff, Hunter’s favorite subject is Social Studies. He would like to go to the University of Florida to play baseball and eventually get drafted into the Major Leagues. For now, he likes to play basketball and wiffle ball outside with his two younger brothers.
In addition to baseball, Goff is also a linebacker and running back on the Eagles’ football team of Coach Keith Reddings that has won the last two Glynn County championships. Most of the year, however, he is concentrating on baseball. When he isn’t playing for Jane Macon Middle School, Goff plays travel ball for Gary Parmenter and Dean Buie. Goff was on the teams that won the Georgia Parks and Recreation Association’s State Championship in 2012 and 2014.
“He’s among a group of eighth graders at JMMS that have the potential to be very special,” Coach Goff said of the group that played on the 2012 state championship team. “I feel honored to be able to be a part of their baseball journey. Having a nephew in the group makes it even more enjoyable. I look forward to seeing how well these boys continue to play together and would love to see them make deep runs in the state playoffs in high school.”
Hunter is a versatile player who is able to take multiple positions on the field. Coach Goff prefers each player be able to play at least two positions to so that they have a better chance to compete for a spot on their high school team.
During middle school tryouts, Hunter was the fastest runner, had the fastest reaction time as a catcher, and ranked second in hitting. He continues to practice hard and focuses on what his coaches tell him to improve upon. He credits AAU Coach Dean Buie for helping him improve and preparing him for the next level.
“He is always there for me no matter what,” Goff said.
Buie was also there as a guide the day young Goff killed his first deer. Later that same day, Buie was there when Goff killed his second and third deer all in the one day.
Hunter works hard to improve every day so that he can contribute at the high school level next year. But more importantly, he looks forward to getting out on the diamond. To Goff, it is the best part of the game.
“Having the opportunity to play a sport that I love,” he said.
SE-RS-0316-Goff
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Jane Macon MS Baseball
By Rob Asbell
It’s My Time to Shine
