By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald

SPRINGFIELD – It’s a question that comes up a lot for Effingham County’s standout center fielder Q King.

How did you get the name, “Q”?

The good-natured senior, born Jacque’s King, doesn’t mind sharing the story.

“Growing up, a lot of people called me “Ques” for short, but it’s kind of hard to say. “Q” is a little easier. You know, the “Q” is right there. I like it, too,” King said.

Easier to say. Definitely easier to spell. But Q King has been anything but easy on opponents trying to slow him down this season. He’s hitting .425 with a .566 on-base percentage after 15 games and among the top three on his team in hits (17), runs batted in (12), stolen bases (5) and runs scored (13).

And he has another answer to a question on a lot of people’s minds? What will you play at the next level, football or baseball?

King was a first-team, all-region wide receiver while leading ECHS in catches and receiving yards and TDs last fall.

“Definitely baseball. Football is fun, but I see myself going farther in life with this,” King said. “Being around my guys, this is where I belong. Besides, who wants to get hit all the time?”

Rebels baseball coach Eric McCombie said the 100 percent commitment to baseball has helped the 6-foot-1, 170-pounder mentally and physically.

“Q works more than a lot of people,” McCombie said. “He works when no one’s looking. He’s taken it upon himself to get in the (batting) cage to get swings ever since football season ended.”

Right on cue, King was ready and has been a big part of his team’s 13-2 start. He had two hits, including a triple and two RBIs in a win over Camden County.

As a sophomore, he earned a starting spot in center field and hit a promising .307. In a pressure-packed, three-game series against rival South Effingham, he went 6-for-9 to help the Rebels take the series two games to one.

A lot was expected of King in 2024, but he managed just two hits during his first 22 at bats.

“It was bad,” he said. “After one game I was crying. But like everyone tells you, you just have to keep swinging.”

King played a spotless center field and had a dramatic game-tying home run against South Effingham, but the highlights couldn’t overshadow the eventual .211 batting average.

McCombie shrugged his shoulders.

“If you had 20 at bats like that in the middle of a MLB season, it goes unnoticed, but when you know you’re only going to get another 40 or so at bats … The weight of the slow start caused him to press,” McCombie said. “Not having to be the guy, but being part of the line (of strong batters this season) has taken the pressure off Q and allowed him to trust himself.”

McCombie said college coaches have been inquiring about King’s football-baseball decision.

A few months ago, it was up in the air. Now Jacque’s King is ready to sign up for baseball and take a swing at any questions about the apostrophe in his first name.

“It’s my dad’s name. I got his middle name, but that’s all I can tell you,” Q said.