FAYETTEVILLE — Jennifer Martin doesn’t like to miss anything her youngest son, Casey, does on a baseball field, even if he’s just running bases before games or fine-tuning his swing in batting practice.
Taking in those moments allows her to gain a sense for his demeanor, and it sets the tone for the game for her, too. Jennifer and her husband, Keith, who for years worked in construction, don’t speak to Casey, Arkansas’ star sophomore shortstop, prior to games. It’s their thing, she says.
If they do reach out it’s typically through text message, a simple note seemingly always along the lines of “Good luck, we love you, play hard and pray before you play.