TWIN FALLS — Eliot Jones found success in repetition.
Seems simple but it worked.
Jones, a CSI outfielder, immediately worked his way into the starting lineup as a freshman. So did many others as nine freshmen hitters started at least 20 games in 2023.
Situations common in junior college with high turnover on a year-to-year basis.
Now, Jones and crew reap the benefits of the constant opportunities as he leads the squad in just about every offensive statistic amid CSI’s five-game win streak.
“We know what it takes to compete in this league and we were able to use that information to help us out this year,” Jones told the Times-News.
Jones, Colby Carter and Brody Duvall started every game so far this season. Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Week Tyler Vance and freshman Jack Barker have also appeared in every contest.
Jones, an Idaho Falls High School graduate, appeared as a consistent in an offense which CSI head coach Boomer Walker said hasn’t held a “consistent enough” approach so far.
His eight home runs, five more than any other Golden Eagle, leads the SWAC. Some college coaches latched onto his success, including Utah Tech and Utah Valley.
He caught glimpses of potential as a freshman but typical baseball slumps mired the process. Needed time to adjust to college-level pitching.
“He (Walker) trusted that I was able to find it,” Jones said. “As a freshman, that was huge. To have the coaches’ confidence, that means a lot as a freshman.”
Jones won an American Legion World Series with the Idaho Falls Post 56 Bandits in 2021 and finished runner-up in 2022.
“Especially when you grow up in the eastern part of Idaho, you just don’t see as high level as baseball as maybe these other kids see,” Walker told the Times-News. “Just gaining that experience and confidence and just the consistent work.”
Jones smacked a grand slam this past Friday afternoon as part of CSI’s four-game sweep over Colorado Northwestern Community College.
He needs six more home runs to tie the program’s single-season record which now-BYU starter Crew Robinson set in 2021.
CSI (20-11 overall, 5-4 SWAC) sit third in the conference with 22 games left in the regular season. The Golden Eagles visit Utah State Eastern on Friday and Saturday to meet with fellow Idaho Falls product Nate Rose, who started 20 games last season with CSI before he transferred.
“He (Jones) is just a really good player,” Walker said. “He is a great kid. We are fortunate to have him on our side.”
PHOTOS: CSI baseball vs. Colorado Northwestern
Adam Engel is the sports editor at the Times-News. He can be reached via phone at 208-735-3288, via Adam.Engel@magicvalley.com or via X @AdamEngel9.
College of Southern Idaho outfielder Eliot Jones leads the Golden Eagles in just about every offensive statistic such as home runs, batting average, hits and RBIs.
College of Southern Idaho's Eliot Jones, pictured in 2021 with the American Legion Idaho Falls Bandits, brought championship-level experience to the Golden eagles.