Jack Marracco doesn’t have to go far to find the people and places that matter most to him. His dad Curtis owns Taco Town just down the street from school. His mom Stephanie works in the guidance office at Choctaw. He attends Beachside Church, right next door to campus. He works at Ronnie’s Car Wash. And when he steps onto the field for the Big Green, he’s got his older brother Carter batting alongside him in the lineup.
- For this week’s Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Okaloosa Gas, everything runs through Racetrack Road.
Marracco, a sophomore, has stepped into a key role on Choctaw’s pitching staff this season — and he’s looked the part. Last month, he threw a no-hitter against Booker T. Washington, relying on a dominant fastball and a changeup he said was “pretty nasty that day.” The only thing that kept it from being a perfect game was a single walk.
“It was complete dominance, to be honest,” Head Coach David Weber said. “He threw the ball really well. His tempo was really good. He stayed within himself, executing pitches. It was gorgeous to see.”
The bus ride home told the rest of the story.
“It was pretty electric,” Marracco said. “The whole bus ride home we were singing and dancing on the bus.”
Choctaw is 5-3 on the season, coming off a 10-5 win over Baker on Monday and building on last year’s Sweet 16 appearance. Marracco was part of that playoff run as a freshman, and he said the bond from that team has carried over.
- “That bond really just stuck with us this year,” he said. “It helps us have good brotherhood and helps us win games.”
Beyond his arm, Marracco plays first base and center field and hits fifth in the order — a heavy workload for any player, let alone a 10th grader. Weber said what makes it work is the mentality behind it.
“He’s a competitor first and foremost, which gives him an advantage from the jump,” Weber said. “He’s a naturally competitive-natured kid, which is an awesome attribute to have.”
Weber added that Marracco’s leadership has been just as impressive as his talent, particularly for his age. He described him as lighthearted but driven, the kind of player who shows up every day ready to compete and help his teammates do the same.
- “No one has anything ever to say bad about the kid,” Weber said. “As a teammate, he’s honestly a really good friend. He’s more like a brother to most of the kids on the team, which is pretty awesome.”
Off the field, Marracco is a member of the National Honor Society at Choctaw, and his favorite class is AP Statistics with Coach Charlie Horton, who he credits with making him love math. He also plays football, works at Ronnie’s Car Wash with his brother, and attends Beachside Church on Sundays.
Baseball has been part of his life since he was 4, pushed along by a family that lives and breathes the game. Marracco says his dad played until an injury ended his career in high school, and added that he has been his biggest influence.
- “My dad is there all the time,” Marracco said. “He drives me to my tournaments over the summer. 30 hours every single summer just to go to each tournament. He’s just always there.”
With two more years of high school ahead, Weber sees a player with the potential to be something special.
“If he continues to develop and can stay healthy, I think he has a chance to do something special beyond Choctaw,” Weber said. “Whatever he wants to be in life, I think he’ll be pretty good at it.”
As for Marracco, his goals are simple.
“Just getting a good bond with the team,” he said. “Maybe winning a state championship. I think we can get there.”
One Response
I’ve been hearing about his performances on the athletic side, it’s nice to hear about his other accomplishments: work, church, family- this kid has it all!!