Former baseball standout Jarrod Bitter inducted into Tyler ISD Athletic Hall of Fame

Published 10:02 pm Friday, September 13, 2024

Jarrod Bitter, one of the top baseball players in Tyler Lee High School program history, was inducted into the Tyler ISD Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium on Earl Campbell Field during halftime of Tyler Legacy’s football game against Marshall.

“It’s huge for me,” Bitter said. “I think it’s just something that says a lot about the people that have been in my life and have been a part of that journey — teammates, coaches, family and everybody that has just supported me along the way. I think it’s something that has allowed me to walk down memory lane and look back on all of that stuff and just smile a little bit.”

Bitter, Class of 1997, was a Class 5A all-state and All-East Texas catcher while at Robert E. Lee High School, capping his stellar career as Most Valuable Player of District 12-5A. He led the Red Raiders to the playoffs his senior season, hitting .416 with 36 RBIs and six home runs.

The Tylerite was first-team catcher on the Texas High School Coaches Association All-State squad.

After graduating from Lee, Bitter headed to the University of Houston.

In 1998, he was on the All-Freshman team of Conference USA. Bitter made All-Conference USA Tournament in 1999 and was voted Most Outstanding Player of the tournament in 2000, leading the Cougars to the tourney championship. He was also on the Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll for academics. He was All-Conference USA in 1999 and 2000.

Houston was in the NCAA regionals in both 1999 and 2000, winning the regional in 2000. They came within a win of advancing to the College World Series in 2000, falling 2-1 in the Super Regional with San Jose State.

Bitter led the team in batting average in 1999 (.389) and 2000 (.369). He still is among leaders for the Cougars with 88 hits (1999), 21 doubles (2000), 139 total bases (1999) and .477 on-base percentage (1999).

He still holds the sophomore record at U of H with 61 RBIs. He holds the tournament record for four home runs in conference tournaments. His .368 batting average is fourth all-time for UH, 27 home runs (fourth), 150 RBIs (second), 138 runs (ninth), 217 hits (10th), 48 doubles (fourth), 350 totals bases (fourth), .593 slugging percentage (fifth) and .461 on base percentage (second).

In the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft, Bitter was selected in the 33rd round by the San Diego Padres. He made it to AAA before a back injury forced him from baseball.

“It means probably more than I can say or put into words,” Bitter said of his baseball success. “It was just an opportunity to learn some lessons, do some things and have some experiences that are a part of where I am today and who I am today. The opportunities I had here in Tyler and the University of Houston, I will never forget those things.”

Bitter holds degrees from the University of Houston and The University of Texas at Tyler.

He is currently superintendent of Carthage ISD.

Before Carthage, Bitter was with the Tyler ISD for nearly five years, serving as assistant superintendent for the final six months and executive director of school improvement before that. His job focused on a lot of policy and innovation, as well as whatever else the district required, Bitter said.

In addition to working at Tyler ISD, Bitter served as a high school principal in Canton ISD and junior high principal at Whitehouse ISD.

Bitter has been married to his wife Marlo for 23 years (24 years in December) and together they share two daughters, Emily (sophomore at the University of Oklahoma) and Alli (sophomore at Carthage High School).

This is 10th year for the Tyler ISD Athletic Hall of Fame.

To nominate someone for the Tyler ISD Athletic Hall of Fame go to https://athletics.tylerisd.org and click on Hall of Fame.