Marian Catholic’s Jazarris Mackmore, who has an alliterative name, plays with a knockout style.
The junior center fielder also showcases a special ability to send the ball into another dimension.
“A lot of high school hitters just don’t have the ability to see the ball deep that well,” he said. “I’ve always had this great ability to make contact and drive in runners by any means necessary.”
That definitely was the case Monday afternoon.
Mackmore erupted for three extra-base hits and drove in five runs to spark the host Spartans to a 17-6 nonconference victory in five innings over Leo in Chicago Heights.
Junior outfielder Angelo Desoto also drove in five runs for Marian Catholic (3-0). Junior first baseman Emanuel Smith produced a two-run single and added another RBI for the Lions (2-2).
Mackmore, meanwhile, finished 3-for-3 with two doubles and a three-run triple that broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the second inning. He also had a walk and scored four runs.
None of it was surprising to senior outfielder Matt Gonzalez.
“Every time he comes up to the plate, you know that he’s going to do something good,” Gonzalez said of Mackmore. “He has a great eye for power and for making contact.
“He’s great at everything — power, speed, his defense, his arm.”
Marian coach Dave Letourneau praised Mackmore for his knack of raising the level of play around him.
“He’s a special talent,” Letourneau said of Mackmore. “He’s so much fun to watch. The future is so bright for him. It’s not even who he is as a ballplayer. It’s who he is as a person.
“He’s one of the greatest kids I’ve ever coached. He gets everybody into the right mood.”
In his second year on the varsity, the 6-foot-2 Mackmore has expanded on the promise of a sophomore season when he hit .463. He combines size, power and the ability to spray the ball.
A wide receiver in football, he flashed explosive speed and averaged nearly 25 yards a catch while scoring five touchdowns. He brings that physical and punishing mindset to his plate appearances.
“I put on 20 pounds in the last year, just attacking the weight room and getting bigger, stronger and faster,” he said. “Now, I feel like I drive the ball deep and turn on the ball whenever I need room.”
His personality belies his playing style. He’s open, playful and friendly.
“My biggest thing is I always want to make people laugh,” Mackmore said. “I take a special pleasure and thrill of making people around me feel really good.”
While baseball has been his calling card, Mackmore actually prefers a more solitary pursuit.
“I love to fish,” he said. “That’s what I love to do. Whenever I’m not playing baseball, I like to get myself as far away from the game.
What has made everything possible for Mackmore? The fact that success for him wasn’t immediate. He had to learn patience and let his talent develop organically.
“My dad played football at Thornwood, then some in college, and he started me in Little League when I was about 7,” he said. “I wasn’t very good to start off. It wasn’t until I was about 11 that everything started to click.
“It helped that I was bigger than everybody.”
Mackmore went 0-for-4 in Marian’s 2-1 season-opening victory against Shepard in eight innings. He was able to forget that as quickly as the ball leaves the field on one of his big swings.
“I always try to stay fresh out there,” he said. “Whatever happened on the last pitch doesn’t matter, either good or bad. I just take a deep breath and let it all out.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
