JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville High School's Brandon Sims didn’t take kicking for the football team seriously until his junior year in the fall of 2023.

“I think my head coach (Mark Grounds) was even talking to me, just saying I really can be a college-level kicker if I really want to work at it, so after my junior season, I went to a lot of camps and got my name out,” Sims said.

He traveled as far as Las Vegas and Los Angeles over the ensuing months before converting a 55-yard field goal to end the regular season and committing to the University of Tennessee-Martin's FCS program in January.

Even with his sports future determined, Sims still carved out just as much time for baseball and also ranked among the top hitters in the Central State Eight Conference this spring while also serving as a four-year starting catcher.

Jacksonville baseball coach Cory Bunner perhaps put it best: Sims is a super athlete in a super critical position.

“He’s one of those kids you can put in any sport and he would go pick up quickly and be really good at it,” Bunner said. “He’s just a kid you can really count on and challenge. He’s just done a tremendous job."

Through 33 games, Sims has generated a .471 batting average with 48 hits, 35 RBIs and 32 runs, including three home runs.

“He’s started to hone his swing and know his swing,” Bunner added. “What I’ve really noticed this year and last, he’s been really able to help other guys with their swing. He’s just gotten better year after year.”

Sims catches on

Sims lacked experience behind the plate until his freshman year after a couple of seniors went down with injuries.

Sims tackled the steep learning curve with steady improvement each year, according to Bunner.

Decker said Sims not only calls out the right pitches but also supplies a great arm to throw out base runners and confidence in his teammates to make the tag.

“I’ve caught about 20 different people on the mound,” Sims said. “The starters, I like to think everybody trusts me calling pitches and they can throw with confidence on the mound. I try to work with whoever’s pitching as much as I can and being the catcher, you have to lead the team, too.”

Sims said his favorite parts of playing baseball are elevating the younger guys and making the game look fun.

That includes breaking down the mechanics of hitting. Sims said he has spent the past two years working with his summer coach, Kyle Welch of Extreme Elite in Collinsville. Sims credited Welch for dissecting his own swing in elaborate detail.

“Last year, I kind of felt I wasn’t as aggressive at the plate as I should’ve been because I felt like I took a lot of pitches,” Sims said. “Hitting in the top of the lineup for the last three years, I’ve really had to step it up. Hitting-wise, I had to put the ball in play and basically just be less passive at the plate and jumping on good pitches and swinging at them.”

Seniors point the way

Sims and senior shortstop Anderson Decker grew up playing soccer together but were on separate baseball teams until high school.

Decker, who plans to play baseball at Millikin University next spring, carries a .426 batting average with 43 hits, 28 RBIs and 39 runs.

Bunner said Decker flourishes in the pivotal leadoff spot by challenging pitchers deep into the count.

“Bunner really trusts me,” Decker said. “I see a lot of pitches in the box starting off the game and kind of send a message to the entire dugout.”

Decker’s dad, Ryan, played at Illinois College, where Decker’s older brother, Nolan, just finished his junior year. Decker said he has made routine visits to the batting cage with Ryan and Nolan, not to mention hitting instructor Devon Lehmkuhl.

Decker and Sims hope that chemistry can translate to more postseason success. Jacksonville won its first regional title since 2007 last year and opens the playoffs Wednesday at home vs. Springfield High.

“Just being a senior, me and Anderson playing the two hardest positions, we both kind of just want to have fun in our last season playing together,” Sims said.