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Father of BHS Softball Coach an Inspiration to Entire Team During His Battle with Alzheimer’s
Description
She has taken the Bingham High School girls softball team to multiple state championships in her time as head coach. But when the state title suddenly eluded the team for years in a row, someone very close to Coach Jackson, didn’t give up.
On this episode of the Supercast, find out how, despite his own battle with Alzheimer’s, Coach Jackson’s dad stood by the team and was in the stands cheering them on to victory once again, at the last game he would ever see. It’s an inspiring story you don’t want to miss.
Audio Transcription
[Music]Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. She has taken the Bingham High School girls' softball team to multiple state championships in her time as head coach. But when the state title proved elusive for years in a row, someone close to Coach Jackson, didn't give up.
On this episode of the Supercast, find out how, despite his own battle with Alzheimer's, Coach Jackson's dad stood by the team and was in the stands cheering them on to victory once again at the last game he would ever see. It's an inspiring story you don't want to miss.
We're here with head softball coach, Mikki Jackson at Bingham High School. Mikki, thanks for taking the time.
Mikki Jackson:
Thanks.
Anthony Godfrey:
We are now up to nine championships for you here at Bingham in softball. Is that right?
Mikki Jackson:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about why this particular year was so special.
Mikki Jackson:
I think there's a lot of reasons. I have personal reasons and then I have the actual coaching reasons. It's been, it feels like a long time since we've enjoyed being on top and having the escort home, all the excitement of that.
Anthony Godfrey:
When was your last state championship?
Mikki Jackson:
It was 13 years ago.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay.
Mikki Jackson:
We've been in several state championship games since then but we just didn't get over the top. And so to finally get back on top feels awesome.
Anthony Godfrey:
And I understand you've had eight close calls, right?
Mikki Jackson:
Yeah. (laughs)
Anthony Godfrey:
Eight close calls where you're almost there.
Mikki Jackson:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
And tell me about this team this year, what happened over the course of the season
and what got them over the hump finally?
Mikki Jackson:
Yeah, I think this group, you know, there's always that mix of talent and effort, but then there's gotta be that, I call it the magical ingredient, and that's loving each other. And this group definitely grew close. They came in close, but they learned to care and take care of each other in different ways as the season went on. Plus they are young and so they were maturing. The more experience they got, understanding that their character is not, who they are isn't based on an error or a success. But that's icing on the cake, but who we are makes us the results that we get.
Anthony Godfrey:
Softball is of course a team sport, but it's a team sport where your individual errors or shortcomings are on full display. (laughs) Tell me about some of the things that you've had to overcome, some close calls in the season maybe, where you really saw what the girls were made of.
Mikki Jackson:
I think you're right, that the focus is on those individual successes and failures, but overall, you know, all of those come together to make that. And we had some times when we didn't get over the bump. You know, we are one strike away against Riverton in that first game this year.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.
Mikki Jackson:
And our sophomore pitcher's on the mound and she's doing great, fouling off, and they got the better of that at