PHILADELPHIA- Southern University's Jacoby Radcliffe left the HBCU Swingman Classic with two lasting reminders of one unforgettable night: a dirt-stained navy blue jersey and a star-shaped MVP trophy.
 
Both represented far more than his starring role in the American League's 6-1 victory over the National League before an energetic crowd of more than 16,000 Friday at Citizens Bank Park, where HBCU culture, community, connection and celebration came together in a memorable showcase.
 
They symbolized the faith and perseverance that carried him through one of the rockiest journeys of his baseball career. The dirt on his uniform reflected an aggressive night on the basepaths. The trophy recognized a performance years in the making after seasons filled with doubt, setbacks and unwavering faith.
 
"At one point, I wouldn't say I lost my faith, but I was questioning," Radcliffe said. "I was like, 'Is God really here with me? Is He helping me? Is He walking with me step by step?' Then I saw my life change after my junior year. It was always Him. I'd tell my younger self to keep the faith and keep working hard."
 
Radcliffe wasted little time making his mark. After drawing a leadoff walk in the first inning, he stole two bases and scored the game's first run, igniting a three-run rally that gave the American League control from the outset.
 
A Chicago native born on Christmas Eve, Radcliffe has embraced every step of the journey that brought him to this stage. After participating in last year's Swingman Classic in Atlanta, he entered his senior season as one of the Southwestern Athletic Conference's top professional prospects. The expectations weighed on him early in the season, but he responded by hitting .283 with eight doubles, four home runs and four triples.
 
"My journey was rocky," Radcliffe said. "I was a late bloomer. I have a long lineage of baseball in my family, and growing up, it was like I couldn't get it right. My brothers were just far superior to me. When I got to high school, my junior year, I started to break out. My freshman year, I played, but not as much. Then my sophomore year, I lost my starting spot. I just never gave up. I prayed every day. I always talked to my parents and my brothers, and they always uplifted me."
 
Radcliffe's MVP performance carried extra meaning because his manager was Southern alumnus Rickie Weeks, who played for legendary Jaguars coach Roger Cador. Cador, who transformed Southern into one of the nation's premier HBCU baseball programs, died recently and was honored with a moving in-game tribute. Watching another Southern standout shine on that stage made the moment especially meaningful for Weeks, who has watched Radcliffe develop over the past several seasons.
 
When asked about Radcliffe after the game, Weeks smiled as he reflected on the accomplishment.

"That's awesome to see," Weeks said of Radcliffe earning MVP honors. "It's good to be from a school like Southern that has a long lineage of tradition and success at the same time. I've known him for a couple of years now, and seeing him kind of come into his own is great. It's really cool to see him get that award tonight."
 
During his brief stay in Philadelphia, Radcliffe soaked up advice from several former major leaguers, lessons he plans to carry into professional baseball. Their message was consistent: Be yourself, have fun, play with confidence and understand that your unique talents can change a game.

"They taught us to be ourselves and just have fun with the game," Radcliffe said. "It's OK to play with confidence. I have the mentality that nobody on the field is better than me, and I believe I can change the game in so many ways. Whether it's my speed, my defense or my hitting, I believe I can make an impact every time I step on the field."
 
Those lessons perfectly matched the style of baseball Radcliffe displayed throughout the evening as his speed continually put pressure on the National League defense. Beyond the MVP performance, he especially treasured the conversations he shared with Weeks, whose guidance reinforced the importance of staying mentally strong through baseball's inevitable highs and lows.
 
"He talked about the mental side of the game a lot," Radcliffe said. "This game is a game of failure. You're not supposed to succeed. If you're three for 10, you're a Hall of Famer. Yesterday, we were talking about hitting the outside pitch, and he told me, 'You just need a little bit of separation.' When I did that, I saw success immediately."
 
Long after the clubhouse emptied, dirt still stained Radcliffe's jersey as he stood beside the interview area, proudly holding the star-shaped MVP trophy in his hands. One was earned on the basepaths. The other was forged through years of perseverance, prayer and unwavering faith.
 
SWAC Notes
Several other SWAC student-athletes also played key roles in the American League's victory. Southern's KJ White Jr. and Alabama State's Miguel Oropeza each scored twice, while White added two stolen bases.
 
Bethune-Cookman's Pablo Torres tossed two perfect innings with four strikeouts, and Jose Fernandez drove in three runs while recording the game's only extra-base hit, a third-inning double.
 
For the National League, Alabama A&M's Brycen Hammonds had a hit and scored the team's lone run in the eighth inning. Anthony Mateo threw two perfect innings with two strikeouts, Prairie View A&M's Ryland Duson added a hit, and Florida A&M's William Brown IV drove in the National League's only run.

About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
 
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
 
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