By: Shannon Bickert

Jack Ballou, a local standout attending Lindsey Wilson College, grew up around the Schooners, helping during the summer as a kid. Ballou is now joining the Schooners on the field for the second season.

Ballou grew up down the road from Ed Harvey Field as a Groton, Connecticut native and was involved in the local baseball circuit as a kid.

Before joining the Schooners as a pitcher, Ballou helped out with the team in middle and high school.

“I was working the snack stands back in the day,” Ballou said. “I used to just help out. Honestly, I don’t even know how it started.”

Little did Ballou know that he would be playing for the Schooners just a few years later.

Ballou joined Mystic’s team in 2025 and stuck around for a second year at the Shipyard.

“It means a lot,” Ballou said. “I get to represent my hometown, my family, everyone who helped me along the way, and it feels good to be back here and represent them.”

It was an easy decision for the rising senior to return for another season after his 2025 campaign where he struck out seven across 7.1 innings of work.

“I live right up the street and it’s [Mystic] just a great area,” Ballou said. “I like the coaches, the team’s a good time. I just like playing baseball here. It’s fun.”

Another perk of being local is getting to play close to home and family.

Ballou started playing baseball because of his father. Ballou’s dad, who was a pitcher in college, got him into the game and into pitching.

“My dad will always come out,” Ballou said. “He’ll sit on top of the hill and watch the games.”

The Schooners are a way for Ballou to not only continue playing baseball throughout the summer, but it’s an opportunity to grow as a player. As a pitcher at Lindsey Wilson, Ballou sees the competition during the summer as a way to improve as a player.

“It’s definitely challenging,” Ballou said. “I like the challenge. I prefer this over going to a different league where I’d go and pitch like 40 innings. I like competing against guys who might be better than me and go out and get to show what I can do.”

Ball at the Shipyard has been a part of Ballou’s summers for several years, and is now a part of him.

“I just love playing here,” Ballou said. “It’s a lot of fun. I love the guys, I love the team.”