Photo by LARRY HILLIARD Pitcher Bobby Jackson has overcome shoulder surgery to lead Post 109 to another state tournament appearance. Like his team, Gaffney Post 109 pitcher Bobby Jackson has battled back from adversity this season.

Jackson, a standout on the 2009 Gaffney High state champions, persevered through shoulder surgery to become the ace of the Post 109 staff.

His journey has mirrored his team, which overcame an 0-4 start and a sudden managerial change to advance to the state tournament for the second straight year and fifth time in eight years.

“I think I’m 100 percent back,” Jackson said. “My velocity has been gradually coming back.”

He won’t get an argument from Easley, which mustered just one hit off Jackson in Post 109’s series-clinching victory this past Wednesday.

For the first time since the injury, Jackson’s throwing without fear.

“I was worrying about hurting my arm again,” he said. “Against Easley, I just came out and threw it.”

Post 109 manager Zach Clary noticed the change in Jackson.

“He’s back to being himself,” Clary said.

Jackson’s return to form has taken about a year.

He hurt his arm during the Gaffney Indians’ state championship run last year. He shut it down after a playoff game against rival Spartanburg.

He was diagnosed with an inflammed bursa sack in the back of his shoulder. Surgery was performed to clean out the joint. The rehab wasn’t as smooth as he would have liked.

“Everything didn’t heal right,” he said.

He was expected to see action for USC-Upstate shortly after the team returned from winter break. But his first appearance didn’t happen until midway through the collegiate season.

With the healing complete now and the state tournament looming later this week, Jackson is ready to give it his all in his last go-around for Post 109.

“I feel like it means a lot more,” he said. “This is my last year and I’ll never play legion again.”

Jackson feels good about the team. He attributed the team’s rough start to a group of untested newcomers. But the new players have integrated themselves seamlessly and have kept a good chemistry on and off the field.

“We had a lot of new players but as the year has gone along we’ve played like a team,” he said.

Not surprisingly, Jackson will start Post 109’s tournament opener Friday at 3 p.m. against a loaded Florence team.

“I want the ball,” he said.