Scott Yelle took his son Jackson Yelle to his first baseball game when he was 5 years old. Despite 5-year-old Jackson falling asleep during the seventh inning and needing cotton candy and ice cream to get through the game, he and his dad shared a love of the sport throughout Jackson’s life. Now, a year after Elon junior Jackson was killed in a hit-and-run on a beach trip with his club baseball team, Scott honors his son’s memory through the Jackson Yelle Family Foundation and stays in close contact with the rest of the team.
Scott came to Elon sporting Jackson’s worn baseball hat and a Boston Red Sox shirt with “Yelle” on the back — along with Jackson’s No. 2. Scott came to Elon on April 4 to watch a Club Baseball practice and visit with Jackson’s friends, who have meant so much to him and his family.
“Jackson was a club member here and as he always said, ‘these are my guys,’” Scott said. “This is his bunch of buddies that he always hung out with and so a lot of camaraderie and friendship here. And after the accident, these guys kind of adopted us and so they mean a lot to us.”
Scott Yelle answers a video call with Elon Club Baseball members at the Recreation Fields on April 4.
Scott said he and Jackson had a goal of visiting every Major League Baseball stadium. While they were only able to go to 12 of the 30 stadiums together, Scott is now continuing the journey himself. Along the way, Scott said he has had family and friends join him for games in different locations, including his own high school baseball coach whom he hadn’t seen for 35 years.
The Jackson Yelle Family Foundation serves to support Jackson’s legacy and bring good into the world — as Scott said was Jackson’s mission.
At the time of Jackson’s death, Elon Club baseball raised $40,000 in his honor. These funds started the Jackson Yelle Family Foundation. Since then, the foundation has donated to both Elon Club Baseball and Jackson’s high school team — as well as partnered with the MLB Nike Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program. Nike RBI works to bring baseball and softball to young people in under-served communities.
“It combines I think Jackson's passion for baseball, and just developing young men and women with core values of leadership, understanding teamwork, fighting through adversity,” Scott said.
Earlier this week, Scott was in Miami for a Marlins game and had the opportunity to meet four Nike RBI players on the field before the game. Scott said that supporting kids through sports is what the work they are doing is all about.
“Just seeing their faces light up when they got to meet the pros,” Scott said. “You just know they went back to school on Tuesday and just were bragging to all their friends and showing them pictures.”
Scott Yelle greets Elon Club Baseball members who were close to the Yelle family before they gathered for a group photo at the Recreation Fields on April 4.
The only regret Scott said he has from when Jackson was younger was not capturing more moments of his son — like the first baseball game they watched together. He said he was always proud of his son, both as a coach and a father, and he said watching him play was always fun.
“It was a joy. I remember his first home run, I remember his first hit on the varsity team,” Scott said.
Scott said he gets a lot of energy being back on campus, surrounded by Jackson’s friends. He also said he is excited to see the seniors on the team graduate and said throughout this past year the team has supported his family and will always hold a special place in his heart.
“They’re like Jackson: a lot of laughs, good-natured ribbing,” Scott said. “I enjoy being here.”