Every time twin brothers Jacob and Jojo Parker step into the batter's box, they banish any negative thoughts and focus on pushing forward mentally.
That mindset has helped the Purvis High School baseball stars experience a great deal of success at the plate alone, but invariably, sitting just behind home plate are a pair of eyes watching that belong to a man who instilled that mindset in them. That pair of eyes belongs to their dad, Jop, who sits in his wheelchair holding pride in his heart.
Pictured: Jacob Parker, their mom Mechelle, Jojo Parker and Jop Parker.
Because of their dad's life experience, the brothers have embraced the idea that baseball is a game filled with failure and that the only way to move past that failure is to keep living in the moment and learn from the past.
"Baseball teaches you a lot about life and how to respond and react," Jop said. "It's not going to go your way every single time when you are in the cage or at the plate or on the mound. If you can overcome that and have a mindset to throw out the negativity and push forward I think it makes you a better baseball player.
"That's something we have tried to preach to our kids, that what's happened in the past is in the past, and we can learn from it and move forward. That's the same way in the game of baseball."
At just 16 years old, during a football game at Purvis, Jop looked to make a routine play as the Tornadoes' free safety. Instead, he took a brutal hit that broke his C4, C5, and C6 vertebrae on his spine, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.
He never allowed his injury to determine his life’s path. Rather, he felt it was part of God's plan.
"I've always had joy. and I think that's because (of) No. 1 my faith and No. 2 that I've felt like I could overcome things that were placed in my life," Jop said. "I always had that mindset that God was going to use me for something special. I say special, but don't take it lightly; it's something different. He had a plan for me that he would use my life in a unique way. When I got hurt, I thought this is what it is."
Jop spent the rest of the school year in hospitals and in rehabilitation clinics. It wasn't until summertime that Jop reenrolled school and eventually finished his high school education. Afterward, he went on to graduate from Southern Miss, where he met his wife, Mechelle.
"There was just something different about him," Mechelle said. "He had a drive and motivation."
After working at Southern Bone and Joint, Jop decided to pursue a law degree at Ole Miss. The now-married couple moved to Oxford, where Mechelle had their sons.
"Mechelle had the weight of the world on her shoulders," Jop said. "I was studying, and then she's mom. She was also working, she's a physical therapist by trade, and raising the boys, and I was going to school."
After earning his law degree, Jop made it a point to return to Purvis, where he eventually opened his own practice and was most recently appointed as the County Court Judge for Lamar County.
"I always wanted to come back here and give back to the community that during a time in my life gave to me,” Jop said. “I wanted to move back to Lamar County and this area to open my practice and try and give back to this area because of their generosity and what they did for me and my family at a time of crisis back in 1997."
Growing up listening to their dad’s story, Jojo and Jacob never looked at their lives differently.
"Me and Jo have an understanding of life and understanding of what people go through," Jacob said. "You see what our dad has done; most people in his situation don't do the things that he has done. It's very eye-opening at a young age that if I set my mind to it, then I can honestly do whatever I want."
Jop’s physical limitations haven’t stopped him from being an active part of his brothers’ athletic journeys, and they’ve never felt like he was missing.
"It hasn’t been different for me other than he couldn't throw (batting practice) to us like other dads," Jojo said. "He's there with us in the cage. He's been a regular dad other than he can't drive or throw BP to us. That's why I think God gave us a twin, so we can throw BP to each other and toss to each other."
Growing up, Jojo and Jacob played a variety of sports always pushing each other. They also grew up around several older cousins who went on to play college sports, but every step of their way their dad has been their even helping to coach some of their peewee teams.
"It hasn't been different for us," Jacob said. "We don't see the (wheel) chair. I don't think anybody close to my dad sees the chair because he's a normal guy. He has joy.
"We just grew up, and his story was kind of different for us. I don't want to miss and see life through a different lens."
The two brothers initially didn't intend to pursue baseball in their early high school days, but the game just clicked for both. Since then, the duo helped Purvis win a state championship two years ago, and their presence has the Tornadoes positioned as contenders this upcoming year. They have also earned numerous all-state and all-area accolades.
"We prayed when they were little for them to be strong and wise and beautiful," Mechelle said. "That was our prayer, and God has granted that, and showing us favor over their lives, and they've put in the work. It didn't come easy for them. They are natural athletes, but they've worked, you have to work, and they work very, very hard. I just feel like God has shown his favor over our lives."
The two brothers, who are signed with Mississippi State, will soon have the chance to play some of the highest levels baseball can offer. They are both being targeted in this year's upcoming MLB Draft and both received invitations to the 23rd annual Super 60 Pro Showcase, which features only the top 2025 draft prospects, but for now that's off in the future.
Until then, the brothers are focused on living in the moment and the one goal they are concerned with this upcoming season is winning another state title.
"I want to win a state championship," Jojo said. "I want another ring, and right now, that's what I'm looking forward to.
"You have to stay where your feet are," Jacob added. "That's got to be your goal. Our goals are to be great college players or be draft picks. But right now, where our feet are is winning a state championship. You can't get your mind scattered."
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