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Woodmore baseball coach Todd Bringman likes to point to last year's game against Eastwood as the turning point in pitcher David Jacobs' career.
Jacobs, then a junior, threw a complete-game four-hitter with two walks and four strikeouts in the Wildcats' 3-2 loss to the Eagles. It was Woodmore's last game of the regular season.
“He battled a sore arm early last season and we didn't push him,” Bringman recalled. “He pitched a nice game against Eastwood. We lost, but Eastwood was loaded last year. The light bulb came on and David really started competing. His game definitely went up a notch. I really feel the best days for David are ahead of him. We always saw glimpses of him, but I don't think he truly believed what he could be until that Eastwood game.”
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Woodmore senior pitcher David Jacobs
on the basepath.(Press photo by Dean
Utendorf/www.WoodmorePhotos.com) |
Jacobs, who earned honorable mention All-Suburban Lakes League honors last year after going 2-3 with a 3.71 ERA in 22 2/3 innings, said his performance against Eastwood gave him confidence heading into his senior season.
“My personal goal this year was to be the No. 1 pitcher in the SLL,” he said. “My team goal is to win the SLL and take home the trophy we get to actually keep, since it's the (SLL's) last year. I didn't set any goals as far as wins and losses, I just wanted to be the best I can be and be the best pitcher in the SLL.”
In five appearances this season, Jacobs, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound right-hander, is 3-2 with an 0.86 ERA in 24 1/3 innings. He has allowed just 12 hits, with 21 walks and 31 strikeouts.
Jacobs has beaten Fostoria St. Wendelin and Old Fort, and he tossed a five-inning no-hitter in the Wildcats' 10-0 rout of Fremont St. Joe on April 2. The no-hitter included eight strikeouts and two walks.
“I thought it was a no-hitter after the game,” Jacobs said, “but I guess there was a questionable error on the infield. It was actually an error on me, on a ground ball and I missed it.”
Jacobs' losses have come against Gibsonburg and Port Clinton, and he had a no-decision against Eastwood after pitching 3 1/3 innings in the Wildcats' 10-7 win.
“I started off really good the first three games and then I kind of started trying to locate my pitches too much,” said Jacobs, who also plays left field. “I think I can do a lot better than I am now. I'm trying to locate my pitches too much now, where at the beginning of the season I was trying to blow it by guys.”
Bringman, whose squad was 7-4 and 2-2 in the SLL heading into Wednesday's game at Elmwood, said Jacobs is more of a location pitcher who “can be” overpowering.
“David hits his spots more than anything,” Bringman said. “The first three games he was throwing in the mid-80s and throwing BBs. He throws three pitches for strikes, but he can bring it when he decides to.”
Jacobs eschewed playing for the Wildcats' golf team last fall in order to train with former Woodmore standout Dane Bonningson, who now competes in MMA events.
“We worked in the weight room and played long toss,” Jacobs said. “I decided I wanted to play in college and I wanted to focus my attention. I think I'm better at baseball than golf, so I wanted to focus on baseball. It was a good decision. I think I've gained 5-10 miles per hour on my fastball. Dane has been really helpful.”
Jacobs, a team captain along with fellow senior Jake Zollinger, said he is eying Defiance College as his next destination in the fall.
“My goal is to be a starting pitcher my freshman year,” he said. “I want to focus all my attention on pitching. I'm pretty much positive on Defiance, but I haven't committed yet.”
Jacobs, who has a 3.82 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society and the Teen Advisory Group, said he plans to major in digital forensics in college. His father, Randy, is a veteran police detective in Oregon.
“Digital forensics is where you get a laptop or a phone that a detective finds and you search through it,” Jacobs said. “My dad inspired me. It sounds interesting and I'm going to go for it.”
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