As Sac State?s career hit leader, senior center fielder Aurelio Jackson wants more. And if the first few weeks of the baseball season are any hint as to what the rest of the year brings, he just may get it.

Jackson passed Brandon Marshall?s career hit total of 168 last week, but he isn?t satisfied with just that.

“Winning means more,” said Jackson about the record. “Plus, Brandon Marshall was only here two years and I feel like I?m supposed to get it. To get 200 hits is more important than 169.”

Head coach John Smith is happy to know that Jackson will have the honor (career hit mark), when he looks back on his years at Sac State.

“I?m glad to see him go away with something to remember,” he said. “He?s a good hitter, very consistent.”

Baseball runs in the blood for Jackson, as his father Aurelio Jackson Sr., was a decent ballplayer himself.

“My dad played ball all his life,” the younger Jackson said. “He tried out for the Reds. He said the day before he got the call that he made it (to the big leagues), he enrolled in the Navy, where he stayed for 30 years. He said he was better (at baseball) than I am.”Jackson Sr. wanted his son to play baseball all along.

“I played basketball in high school, but I didn?t get a 3.0 GPA so dad made me quit,” Jackson said. “But he didn?t make me quit baseball.”

Jackson stuck with the game and wanted to play ball in college.

“I had never heard of Sac State. I signed with UOP, but didn?t get the Cal Grant because I missed the GPA by .03 of a point,” Jackson said. “But my high school coach called all these schools, and called coach Smith, and I think it?s worked out. And I hope Sac State thinks it?s worked out, too.”

Sac State should be more than pleased with Jackson?s choice. Career hits may not be the only record that Jackson claims ownership of when he graduates from the school in May. He is currently fifth on the list in career steals, needing only 23 more to surpass Matt Martinez?s (1992-93) record of 75 stolen bases.

Judging by his 11 steals in the Hornets? first 12 games this season, he appears primed and ready to get that record, too. Jackson is also only 44 plate appearances away from having more at-bats than any other Hornet.

“I never was a big steal guy. I never ran in high school, the most I had was 16,” Jackson said. “But here, you?ve got to learn how to steal.”

Jackson has led the Hornets in steals the last three seasons and it certainly appears like he?ll do it again.

“He creates havoc when he gets on base,” Smith said of his leadoff hitter. “With a steal or a hit and run, he enables us to energize our offense.”

“He brings speed,” first baseman Daryl Grant said. “He steals a lot of bags. The key is his speed.”

Jackson?s speed also helps him in the outfield, where Smith believes Jackson is even more valuable to the team.

“To me he is the epitome of what a center fielder is about. He covers a lot of ground and has improved tremendously as an outfielder,” Smith said. “I?ve only seen three or four center fielders in 23 years here that can make a difference in games and he?s one of them. His offense is just icing on the cake.”

For the top of the dessert, Jackson?s offensive production has been pretty good, and this year may be his best. He is batting .392, with eight runs batted in, and a team leading 20 base hits for the 6-6 Hornets. He is also second on the team with 11 runs scored and has a .475 on base percentage to go along with the 11 stolen bases. Jackson batted over .300 in his first three years also. Last year, Jackson hit .306 with a .420 on base percentage and a career high 17 stolen bases. He also managed to lead the team in walks despite a shoulder injury that caused him to miss the season?s final 10 games.

“I threw my shoulder out,” Jackson said. “The surgery (on Aug. 28) was the worst feeling ever.”

Jackson has more weight on his shoulders this year as he feels that he is in the position where he has to be a leader by example to his teammates.

“I?m the only guy here that has been (actually) playing for four years,” Jackson said. “This year, I?m really looking at the younger guys and I feel knowledgeable.”Teammate Justin Bassey, a junior catcher, also sees Jackson as a leader.

“He?s kind of quiet but he?s a good influence,” Bassey said. “Especially to the younger players.”

Smith agrees with Bassey on both accounts.

“He?s a good inspiration to the younger guys,” he said. “He?s not a raw, raw guy, or a yeller though.”

Jackson feels that the 2001 Hornets? squad has a chance to do some big things. But he also knows that it will not come without hard work.

“We need to take it serious. We?re so much better than last year,” he said about the team that finished 23-33. “We?re going to have the best record in the four years since I?ve been here. We might be the best Division I team Sac State?s had.”

It is with this team that Jackson hopes to achieve something he can remember Sac State by, besides the records.

“I hope my highlight will be that we went to a regional,” he said. “The most exciting thing I?ve been in so far was the Big West Tournament my freshman year.”

To get to a regional, a lot may depend on Jackson and how well he plays. Because the other guys on the team are pointing to him as the catalyst.

That is a good thing, because Jackson is the guy who wants to be in the critical situation.”I?m really competitive at everything,” Jackson said. “Whether it?s at ping pong, it doesn?t matter. I don?t care what it is.”

It is that competitive nature within Jackson that makes him want to continue his baseball career. Although his post Sac State plans do not involve his criminal justice major at all, he does have high hopes for himself in terms of baseball.

“I really want to play at the next level and I?m hoping to get looked at,” Jackson said. “If I don?t get drafted, I won?t play international ball. I want to coach or be an agent.”

Smith believes that Jackson has what it takes to play baseball professionally.

“He has all the tools needed for the next level,” Smith said. “He?s going to get a chance to play pro ball.”

There are still about 45 games left for Smith, Jackson and the rest of the Hornets. Smith has said about his team that it is not the start that matters, it is the finish. The same may be true for Jackson and his baseball career at Sac State.

Jackson?s got the start down, but how the story of his impressive college career unfolds is an open-ended book, and he holds the pen that will write the final chapter. His teammates are looking to him to lead them.

“When he?s in the box,” Bassey said. “That?s the guy we want up there.”