James Wood High School 18-year-old senior
Position: Shorstop/Pitcher/Third baseman
Parents: Darren and Lorri Iden
Hometown: Winchester
When did you start playing baseball: I’ve been playing since I was 10, my dad started me off in Little League. My grandfather played and I’ve just liked it ever since I started playing.What you love about baseball: I just love the competitiveness, the competitive aspect of the game. Just all the hard work that you put in with practice and winning is just what you work for.
Biggest strength and weakness in baseball: My biggest strength is my competitiveness and will to win, you just have to do what you’ve got to do to win. And my biggest weakness would probably be my hitting. I probably need a little more power. I’m working in the weight room on getting stronger.
Sport you always wanted to try: I played basketball my freshman year but I stopped to focus on baseball. I’d like to race dirt bikes, like Supercross. I’ve road dirt bikes all my life, it’s just a different sport that not a lot people do.
Most memorable moment in baseball: It would be my first home run in Little League. I was 11 and it was over the fence I believe in left field. I didn’t know it went over at first, my teammates told me that it went over and I was a little in shock.
Most embarrassing moment in baseball: It would probably be when I was at a camp down at the University of Virginia my freshman year and I was supposed to turn a double play from third base. I got nervous and launched it into the outfield. It was nowhere near second base. It was a camp so fortunately nobody that I knew saw me do it.
Favorite athlete: [Former Chicago Bull great] Michael Jordan, just because he had a lot of competitiveness and that’s who I was named after. He’s just a great athlete.
Favorite sports team: The Boston Red Sox. My dad likes them and when they won in 2004 it was the first time in 86 years and I’ve just liked them ever since.
Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: Michael Jordan, [New York Yankees shortstop] Derek Jeter and [former president] John F. Kennedy. JFK was just a leader and everybody supported him and he was just a good guy all the way around. Jeter is a great athlete and I play his position, he’s one of my role models.
Favorite Quote: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”
Favorite subject in school: Chemistry, I just like the way science works, it’s all interesting to me.
What’s on the iPod: A lot of rap and blue grass. My favorite song would have to be “Young, Wild & Free” by Wiz Khalifa.
Pregame routine/ritual: Our team always prays before and after every game in honor of our coach, Ed Baker, who passed away last year.
Plans after high school: I plan to go to Shepherd University to study Criminal Justice. Hopefully I can go into the FBI or something like that. I’d like to try and play ball there if I can.