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| Joyce will play baseball at Virginia Tech |
Carlisle pitcher Jake Joyce (front row, center) has signed a full athletic scholarship at Virginia Tech. Pictured with Joyce are (front row, from left): his mother, Kim Joyce, his father, Kenny Joyce; (back row, from left) hitting instructor Alan Ashkinazy, Greensboro Batting Center Travel Team coach Tony Sutphin, Carolina Acceleration trainer Carmine Pagano and Carlisle baseball coach/athletic director David Gaylor. (Contributed photo) |
Friday, January 15, 2010
By CHASE YOUNG - Bulletin Sports Writer
Today marks a momentous occasion for Carlisle standout Jake Joyce.
Joyce, a Bassett transfer and starting pitcher for the Chiefs last season, is hitting the road for Blacksburg today. That’s because Joyce has signed a full-athletic scholarship to play baseball for Virginia Tech, fulfilling a life-long dream.
“When I’m riding up, I’m going to be a little star struck,” said Joyce, the son of Collinsville’s Kenny and Kim Joyce. “I always loved the school, and that was my dream school to play baseball at. So it all worked out like I wanted it to.”
Joyce has opted to graduate early from Carlisle in order to pursue his dream and, according to the Chief, it was no easy decision.
“It was definitely hard, because we (Carlisle’s baseball team) had that big run in the state tournament, and this season we had an extremely high possibility of winning the state tournament,” said Joyce. “In the end, I thought it (joining Tech’s team) was too good an opportunity to pass up.”
For Virginia Tech head coach Pete Hughes, the decision wasn’t as difficult.
“We just think that he’s progressed over the last year where he’ll be competing for some quality innings at the ACC level,” said Hughes. “So when we evaluated him in that light, it expedited his pass to Virginia Tech.
“With pitchers, there’s only so much mileage an arm can have, so the sooner the better,” he added. “Our program got better the day he decided to do that (sign).”
Hughes expects Joyce to compete for a spot in the Hokies’ bullpen as a closer this season and added that what he does late in the game will determine how expansive his role will be.
“It all depends on how freshman allow themselves to perform mentally,” said Hughes. “Physical wise we think he’s got good enough stuff to compete for substantial innings for us.”
That “stuff” helped take the Chiefs’ baseball program to new heights last season, not only from the mound but the plate, as well.
For the first time in the school’s history, Carlisle made a run at the Virginia Independent Schools’ state title, and while the Chiefs fell to Hampton-Christian 4-2 in the state championship game, Joyce’s contributions throughout the season were notable, to say the least.
Joyce pitched 64 1/3 innings and finished the season with a miniscule 0.109 earned-run average (ERA). He faced 247 batters, striking out 162, and allowed 19 hits, seven runs and just one earned run.
His production didn’t stop there.
At the plate, Joyce had 37 hits in 63 at bats for a .578 batting average. He scored 36 runs, recorded 41 RBI, nine home runs, 15 doubles and five triples.
“Jake was absolutely awesome in every way during his time at Carlisle,” said Chiefs head coach David Gaylor.
“We can’t replace Jake, obviously, as a pitcher or a hitter; however, what we can do is build on the attitude and accomplishments of last year. Jake made our players better because they believe they can win it now without him. ... He is special.”
Gaylor’s not the only one that seems to think Joyce is special.
As the head coach for the North Carolina-based Greensboro Batting Center Traveling Team, Tony Sutphin has seen Joyce progress on the field since he was 11 years old.
“You could tell he was going to be a great player even as a kid,” said Sutphin. “He’s just going to get bigger and stronger. I definitely think he’s going to be a pro player, especially with the exposure he’ll get in the ACC.
“He’s just destined for success,” added Sutphin. “He’ll have no problem being a college athlete. The sky’s the limit for him, as long as he stays healthy.”
Under the guidance of Sutphin, 19 athletes have been signed to major or minor league teams over the last 10 years.
As Joyce’s trainer, Carmine Pagano, founder of Carolina Acceleration, has seen Joyce progress physically over the past six years, and while Pagano didn’t think Joyce was “even close to peaking” physically, he added that the Hokie’s greatest strength isn’t his muscles.
“I believe Jake’s mind is his most effective tool,” said Pagano. “Mentally, he’s very tough. What’s going to help him the most is his mental approach to the game.”
Pagano added that Joyce’s strong character is also a huge asset and that it is a result of “great backing” from his family.
Joyce also made it a point to thank Bassett High School’s baseball coach Bill Parks, who he played under for three seasons, his hitting instructor Alan Ashkinazy, as well as Sutphin, Pagano and Gaylor for their contributions to his baseball career, and his parents for the time and effort they spent allowing him to pursue his dream. |
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