FEATURE | BB | James Morgan Award - Ethan Brister

Ethan Brister is the fifth player to receive the James Morgan Award since 2015 joining Conner Combs (2015-17), Dylan Sumpter (2018-19), Jake Miller (2020-2023), and Charles Gordon (2024).

In 2017, ETBU baseball player James Morgan tragically passed away in a car accident. A Marshall, Texas native, Morgan was a two-time honorable mention All-ASC pitcher. But his legacy will forever be remembered by the impact he made on others.

Morgan embodied everything ETBU stood for and represented the Christian values of love, service, and compassion. In honor of Morgan, ETBU baseball annually recognizes a player who represents the same ideals Morgan did on and off the field by allowing him to wear Morgan’s #16 jersey.

This year, that player is senior pitcher Ethan Brister. 

“When I first heard I was going to be wearing #16 in honor of James Morgan, I was surprised because I hadn’t been at ETBU for that long,” Brister said. “But other than that, I felt super blessed and honored when I first heard that I was going to be wearing #16.”

The Honor of Wearing #16

Brister joined the ETBU baseball program in 2024 as a pitcher and helped ETBU to a NCAA Division III Regional Tournament and ASC Regular Season Championships. This year he has made three appearances and earned his first strikeout of the year vs. the Redlands. 

After just one season, Brister showed he embraced the values the program was built on. On and off the field, Brister has been a shining example of what an ETBU player should be.

“It means a lot to be able to represent someone who demonstrated his faith on and off the field,” Brister said. “James Morgan showed service, love, and compassion towards those around him. I’ve only played with Charles Gordon, who also wore #16, and the way he carried himself truly reflected what the award means. He was a great example. The other guys, I’ve heard stories about them and how they carried themselves on and off the field.”

A Great Baseball Program

Brister may have only been at ETBU for a year, but it didn’t take long for him to realize how special it is to play for the Tigers. It’s a close-knit team that truly enjoys spending time together and playing for each other.

“This is only my second year at ETBU, but ETBU baseball, to me, these past couple of years, has meant a lot to my journey,” Brister said. “I’ve experienced how ETBU baseball is a very close-knit family and a brotherhood. ETBU baseball is not just an on-field group, but it is also an off-field group as well. The bond that we have off the field is just as strong as we have on the field.”

Brister has also been able to learn valuable life lessons that will help him beyond baseball. 

“ETBU baseball has taught me discipline and dedication, not only on the field but off the field as well,” Brister said. “And it has taught me not to let what’s going on in my life off the field affect me on the field. The baseball field is a place to be able to fly around, play the game you love, and just have fun overall.”

The Leadership of Jared Hood

A big reason the baseball program is so special is because of the leadership of head coach Jared Hood. 

“Ever since I’ve been here, Coach Hood has done so much for the program on and off the field,” Brister said. “Not only with the success on the baseball field, but also with building and molding guys into men. Coach Hood being from Marshall has let us be more involved in many things in the Marshall community, such as hosting baseball camps, helping out at local churches, and another big piece of what Coach Hood has done was honor the life of James Morgan and what he represented and what he has done in his life, serving others, loving others, and showing Christian character on and off the baseball field.”

The honor of wearing #16 and being a part of the ETBU baseball program is something Brister will never take for granted. He’s grateful to be a part of a program that continues to make an impact in the lives of so many people.

“I think that ETBU is a great place to get a degree and play the sport that you love,” Brister said. “ETBU has such a close-knit feeling that you are able to be seen and feel heard.”