JT Killen a big hit for Charlotte Christian’s Knights
.T. Killen has accomplished a lot in four years as a starter on the Charlotte Christian baseball team.
But the 6-foot-3, 210-pound left-hander, who is all-state performer for both the Knights’ baseball and football team, had one of the most memorable moments of his Charlotte Christian career when he launched a home run 480-plus feet early in the 20-2 win at Charlotte Latin April 25.
“That home run he hit at Charlotte Latin was farthest I’ve ever seen a high school player hit a ball, it hit the grass at SwimMAC (building),” said Charlotte Christian baseball coach Greg Simmon. “The ball easily went 480-feet when we measured it with a phone app. And 480 is a conservative guess. It probably went farther. J.T. (Killen) does things you can’t coach. He has more power (at the plate) than anyone I’ve ever coached.”
Killen says his power comes naturally.
“I have to say my power comes from genetics,” said Killen, crediting his dad, Jay, and his grandfather, Jimmy Killen, who both played football at University of South Carolina. “I’ve always been able to hit the ball far.”
Killen does a little bit of everything for this Charlotte Christian team.
He is the team’s No. 1 pitcher, going 4-0 this season with 62 strikeouts in 34.1 innings of work, while boasting a 1.2 earned-run average (ERA). Killen consistently throws his fastball 90 to 92 miles per hour.
Killen is hitting .468 with seven home runs, 37 RBI and seven doubles.
Killen was at his best this past week, going 10-for-12 at the plate in wins over Cannon School, Charlotte Latin (twice) and Christ School.
He hit for the cycle against Cannon School, going 4-for-4 at the plate with a single, double, triple, home run and four RBI in the 10-0 victory, Apr. 22.
Two days later, despite throwing up for an hour before the game, Killen came in and pitched 4.1 innings, allowing only one run while striking out seven in a 4-2 win over Christ School.
The very next day, Killen launched his 480-foot homer against Charlotte Latin to give the Knights their fourth win in as many days.
Killen is quick to credit his teammates.
“I have to give a shout out and give credit to my teammate, Brett Adams, for really pushing me this year, because he’s up there close to me in batting average, home runs, and pitching,” Killen said. “He’s been a big part of my success this season.”
While the Knights are in the midst of another strong season, coach Simmons and the Knights are eager to prove they can contend for a state championship.
Charlotte Christian has lost one-run games to Wesleyan Christian in each of the past two, seasons in final game of the NCISAA 3A state championship series.
This year, the Knights, especially seniors -- in Adams, Killen, Trey Donathan, Matt Mayers and Shane Russell -- hope the final game of their high school careers is a victory.
Coach Simmons has helped Charlotte Christian to 13 state championships in his tenure.
“Winning a state championship is something we’ve all wanted, and we’ve all grown up watching Charlotte Christian (baseball team) win championships,” Killen said. “On our clubhouse, there is a little window to mark every state championship team, and there’s one little window left that we need to fill. We see it every day and think about what it be like to be a part of that championship tradition.”
Killen will play both baseball and football at Coastal Carolina beginning this summer.
He is a rare athlete as he can pitch, play in the outfield and he plays linebacker on the football field.
“It’s exciting for me to be able to keep playing two sports in college and I know it’s going to be a huge challenge, but I’m going to give it my best effort” Killen said. “In football, I’d really like to play in a bowl games and of course in baseball, I want to get Omaha (College World Series). Playing at Coastal Carolina gives me the opportunity to do both.”
“J.T. has a bright future in baseball because he can really hit and pitch,” Simmons said with a laugh. “But man he is also a heck of a football player.”
.T. Killen has accomplished a lot in four years as a starter on the Charlotte Christian baseball team.
But the 6-foot-3, 210-pound left-hander, who is all-state performer for both the Knights’ baseball and football team, had one of the most memorable moments of his Charlotte Christian career when he launched a home run 480-plus feet early in the 20-2 win at Charlotte Latin April 25.
“That home run he hit at Charlotte Latin was farthest I’ve ever seen a high school player hit a ball, it hit the grass at SwimMAC (building),” said Charlotte Christian baseball coach Greg Simmon. “The ball easily went 480-feet when we measured it with a phone app. And 480 is a conservative guess. It probably went farther. J.T. (Killen) does things you can’t coach. He has more power (at the plate) than anyone I’ve ever coached.”
Killen says his power comes naturally.
“I have to say my power comes from genetics,” said Killen, crediting his dad, Jay, and his grandfather, Jimmy Killen, who both played football at University of South Carolina. “I’ve always been able to hit the ball far.”
Killen does a little bit of everything for this Charlotte Christian team.
He is the team’s No. 1 pitcher, going 4-0 this season with 62 strikeouts in 34.1 innings of work, while boasting a 1.2 earned-run average (ERA). Killen consistently throws his fastball 90 to 92 miles per hour.
Killen is hitting .468 with seven home runs, 37 RBI and seven doubles.
Killen was at his best this past week, going 10-for-12 at the plate in wins over Cannon School, Charlotte Latin (twice) and Christ School.
He hit for the cycle against Cannon School, going 4-for-4 at the plate with a single, double, triple, home run and four RBI in the 10-0 victory, Apr. 22.
Two days later, despite throwing up for an hour before the game, Killen came in and pitched 4.1 innings, allowing only one run while striking out seven in a 4-2 win over Christ School.
The very next day, Killen launched his 480-foot homer against Charlotte Latin to give the Knights their fourth win in as many days.
Killen is quick to credit his teammates.
“I have to give a shout out and give credit to my teammate, Brett Adams, for really pushing me this year, because he’s up there close to me in batting average, home runs, and pitching,” Killen said. “He’s been a big part of my success this season.”
While the Knights are in the midst of another strong season, coach Simmons and the Knights are eager to prove they can contend for a state championship.
Charlotte Christian has lost one-run games to Wesleyan Christian in each of the past two, seasons in final game of the NCISAA 3A state championship series.
This year, the Knights, especially seniors -- in Adams, Killen, Trey Donathan, Matt Mayers and Shane Russell -- hope the final game of their high school careers is a victory.
Coach Simmons has helped Charlotte Christian to 13 state championships in his tenure.
“Winning a state championship is something we’ve all wanted, and we’ve all grown up watching Charlotte Christian (baseball team) win championships,” Killen said. “On our clubhouse, there is a little window to mark every state championship team, and there’s one little window left that we need to fill. We see it every day and think about what it be like to be a part of that championship tradition.”
Killen will play both baseball and football at Coastal Carolina beginning this summer.
He is a rare athlete as he can pitch, play in the outfield and he plays linebacker on the football field.
“It’s exciting for me to be able to keep playing two sports in college and I know it’s going to be a huge challenge, but I’m going to give it my best effort” Killen said. “In football, I’d really like to play in a bowl games and of course in baseball, I want to get Omaha (College World Series). Playing at Coastal Carolina gives me the opportunity to do both.”
“J.T. has a bright future in baseball because he can really hit and pitch,” Simmons said with a laugh. “But man he is also a heck of a football player.”
