You can’t really say that senior Jordan Ham has a home on the baseball diamond.

Multiple positions make Ham valuable to the Niles baseball team.

First base and catcher are the only positions that Ham hasn’t played while being part of the Niles baseball program. He’s been on the varsity the last two years and started both seasons. The first two years he was on the freshman and junior varsity team.

“I’ve played baseball since I was little and played a lot of positions,” Ham said. “I like them all.”

Ham played second base in both games of a doubleheader May 6 against St. Joseph. He made four put-outs, including a diving catch on a fly ball during the fifth inning in the first game. The Vikings went on to win the opener, 2-1. The Bears won game two, 8-3.

“This year I started out at third base, played shortstop a little bit and I’ve been playing pretty well at second base,” Ham said.

“I pitched as a freshman and as sophomore and I pitched this year at the Sturgis Invitational. We were getting beat and that was the only reason coach threw me out there.”

On the mound this season, Ham has tossed 2 2/3 innings and recorded a 2.62 earned run average.

According to Ham, third base is the toughest position to play.

“It’s a lot closer to the hitter,” Ham said. “You also have little time to react for a long throw.”

Niles baseball coach Mike Vota appreciates the versatility that Ham brings to his baseball team.

“He can play anywhere in the infield,” said Vota. “He’s been solid.”

He has also been solid with the bat. Through 20 games, Ham is batting .357 with nine RBIs. He’s collected four doubles, one triple and walked nine times. Ham has a .472 on-base percentage.

“He puts the ball in play and he’s strong and smart,” Vota said. “He’s got a high baseball I.Q. We’re pretty confident that when he comes up to the plate he’s going to do some good things for us.”

That scenario took place in game one against St. Joseph. Ham’s RBI single with two outs gave Niles a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.

“Honestly, I was just trying to do my job,” Ham said. “I had two strikes on me and we always say two strikes for ourselves and then one for the team. That hit was for the team. I was trying to move the runner from second to third at least.”

Ham also singled in the first inning during game one against the Bears. In game two, Ham reached base on a hit by pitch, an error, flew out to left field and struck out.

“I played decent,” he said. “Everything needs improvement.

“We also need to improve as a team with districts coming up. But we’ve improved a lot though.”

Ham, who wants to walk-on to the Adrian College baseball team next year, will continue to work to be the best baseball player that he can be with a big smile on his face.

“As long as I’m out there I’m having fun,” Ham said.