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John Jones speaks about his slump, home run, coaching decisions

John Jones hit his first home run in two months on Friday
John Jones hit his first home run in two months on Friday
Chris Gillespie/GamecockCentral.com

Championship Scenarios | Friday's Game Story

In Friday’s 4-2 Gamecock win over Alabama, there were a couple sighs of relief: the Gamecocks clinched their first road series win since March 26, they secured a first round bye in the SEC Tournament, but the biggest sigh of relief—at least for Gamecock fans—came with one ping of the bat.

In the fifth inning, designated hitter John Jones belted a fastball over the right field wall for the go-ahead home run. It was his first home run since March 20, the go-ahead three-run shot against Arkansas.

The homer comes after a month-long battle at the plate where he went 9-for-60 (.150) before launching his homer. But for Jones, getting out of his slump comes second to the team’s overall goals.

“We’re winning. That’s all I care about,” he said after Friday’s game. “As long as I’m not costing the team wins. That’s all I care about: winning. The team’s been able to keep winning without me doing well at the plate. At the end of the day, that’s the goal for all of us.”

Jones has started all but five games during his 27-game slump with head coach Chad Holbrook vehement about keeping him in the starting lineup.

It proved valuable Friday with Jones’ home run proving to be the game-winner.

“I’m glad I have a coach that believes in me,” Jones said. “That makes it easier to believe in yourself. You have a guy in coach Holbrook who’s going to back you. He’s fought for me through this stretch right here, but he keeps throwing me in there. That’s all I can ask for as a player. I’d understand if he didn’t obviously. HE has and hopefully I’ll turn it around for him.”

Jones said he wouldn’t have done things different if he were the coach, saying Holbrook’s the decision maker and he’s going to do what Holbrook tells him to do. And Holbrook kept telling him to go bat.

“I don’t feel pressure putting John Jones in the lineup,” Holbrook said. “I know people want me to take him out, but he just helped us win a game and secure a top four seed.”

South Carolina takes the field Saturday with a chance to be SEC Champions or lock up the No. 2 overall seed in the SEC Tournament. South Carolina is trying to earn its 20th SEC win, which would be the first 20-win SEC season since 2011.

And more than likely, it’ll be Jones in the starting lineup trying to get it done.

“We probably wouldn’t get off to a six-and-o start in the league without John Jones,” Holbrook said. “He helped us win another one. He’s part of the solution that enabled us to be a top four team in this league and an SEC Champion. Who knows? It was a big swing of the bat for him and our team.”

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