A concurrent RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE SUMTER NATIVE JORDAN MONTGOMERY ON HIS DEBUT AS A STARTING PITCHER FOR THE 2023 WORLD SERIES AND TO APPLAUD HIS TEAM, THE TEXAS RANGERS, ON CAPTURING THEIR FIRST WORLD SERIES TITLE IN TEAM HISTORY.

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly is pleased to learn that Sumter native Jordan Montgomery made his debut as a starting pitcher in the 2023 World Series this season and that he and his teammates, the Texas Rangers, carried off their first World Series championship in team history; and

Whereas, before the 2023 World Series games, for six decades Bobby Richardson stood as the last baseball player from Sumter to be on a postseason roster for a winning World Series team. On October 25, 2023, in Arizona, that all changed; and

Whereas, former Sumter High and Gamecock star Jordan Montgomery and his teammates with the Texas Rangers finished off the World Series with a 5-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 5. Jordan, who joined the Rangers at the trade deadline, now adds to his growing list of championships after earning an SCHSL Class AAAA state title as a senior at Sumter High, enjoying countless successes with the Sumter P-15s, and winning a game in the College World Series as a freshman in 2012; and

Whereas, the southpaw is quick to give credit where credit is due, beginning with God: "The Lord put me right where I was supposed to be," he told reporters after the game; and

Whereas, the Rangers' manager, Bruce Bochy, who claimed his fourth World Series, had nothing but praise for the player he saw as the team's best addition of the year. He said of Jordan, "We made some moves this year but none bigger than getting this man here. He was a horse for us. Every time he went out there, he gave us a quality start. He just saved us because of the injuries we had, pitchers going down"; and

Whereas, one coach who watched the 2023 World Series with a perceptive eye was Joe Norris, Jordan Montgomery's pitching coach at Sumter High. The pair continue to work together in the offseason in Sumter and communicate regularly throughout the season. Coach Norris adds these words of commendation to the many encomiums that have been showered on Jordan: "Some athletes just have God-given talents that they're just able to make pitches in the biggest moments. Some of that is confidence, some of that is repetition in the bullpen, and some of that is that the best athletes seem to be able to perform in the biggest moments. He has that innate ability to do that"; and

Whereas, grateful for the renown and respect he has brought to the Palmetto State, the General Assembly is proud to call Jordan Montgomery a native of South Carolina. Wishing Jordan much continued success as he continues his baseball career, the members will be following his further achievements with keen interest. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, congratulate Sumter native Jordan Montgomery on his debut as a starting pitcher for the 2023 World Series and applaud his team, the Texas Rangers, on capturing their first World Series title in team history.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Jordan Montgomery.

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