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College Sports Information Brawley Union High alumnus Jacob Sanchez delivers a pitch for Iowa Wesleyan College during an undated game. (Iowa Wesleyan PHOTO / May 12, 2012) |
Former Brawley Union High and Imperial Valley College pitcher Jacob Sanchez was named Friday as the Midwest Collegiate Conference Pitcher of the Year and received a Gold Glove, capping an outstanding senior year for the Iowa Wesleyan College Tigers of Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
Sanchez led the MCC in strikeouts and innings pitched, was second in wins and third in earned run average and opponents’ batting average (.208).
Sanchez was named the recipient of the conference’s Gold Glove for the pitcher position for his fielding with one error in 29 chances in the field.
“My coach called to tell me I’d been voted the honors,” Sanchez said. “It’s so great, it shows that my hard work did pay off and I’m hoping that scouts will notice this along with the year I had.”
Sanchez in fact had one of the best seasons ever by an Iowa Wesleyan pitcher, obliterating the old single-season record for strikeouts, becoming the first player in school history to go over 100 K’s in a season with 111.
Sanchez also tied the school record for wins in a season with ten and in 93 innings while allowing just 71 hits, 25 earned runs and walked just 12 while holding opposing hitters to a .208 batting average.
“Jacob has been a great leader and has a tremendous work ethic,” said Steve Less, Iowa Wesleyan College interim head coach. “He has worked hard this year and Jacob has dominated opponents.”
In April, Sanchez was honored as MCC’s Baseball Pitcher of the Week and after a solid season last year with the Tigers, where he was third in most of the pitching statistical categories, he thoroughly impressed everyone this year.
“My first year was a struggle, I mostly started and it was a big change in the level of play,” Sanchez said. “I found it hard to focus, everything was new, the weather, the school and I had to adapt.”
Sanchez, who credits the support he received from his family for his success, said the birth of his daughter Zoey brought his life and baseball sharply into focus.
“It changed my life ... got me serious about playing and school,” Sanchez, who will graduate from Iowa Wesleyan this fall after completing his last three classes, said. “I put in the extra work in both areas and I had adapted to the weather and venues and the other teams.”
Sanchez will now await Major League Baseball’s amateur draft next month with hopes of keeping his baseball career moving forward.
“I had the year I wanted and I was able to get ‘looks’ but if I go undrafted I’ll try out as a free agent because I want to give it a chance,” Sanchez said. “I’ve filled out the paperwork and that’s all I can do for now.”
Sanchez’s coach believes he has a future in baseball.
“Jacob worked hard to become the pitcher and the man he is today,” Less said. “He is a great example to others and shows great character on and off the baseball field and I am looking forward to see him play in the future.”
Sanchez led the MCC in strikeouts and innings pitched, was second in wins and third in earned run average and opponents’ batting average (.208).
Sanchez was named the recipient of the conference’s Gold Glove for the pitcher position for his fielding with one error in 29 chances in the field.
“My coach called to tell me I’d been voted the honors,” Sanchez said. “It’s so great, it shows that my hard work did pay off and I’m hoping that scouts will notice this along with the year I had.”
Sanchez in fact had one of the best seasons ever by an Iowa Wesleyan pitcher, obliterating the old single-season record for strikeouts, becoming the first player in school history to go over 100 K’s in a season with 111.
Sanchez also tied the school record for wins in a season with ten and in 93 innings while allowing just 71 hits, 25 earned runs and walked just 12 while holding opposing hitters to a .208 batting average.
“Jacob has been a great leader and has a tremendous work ethic,” said Steve Less, Iowa Wesleyan College interim head coach. “He has worked hard this year and Jacob has dominated opponents.”
In April, Sanchez was honored as MCC’s Baseball Pitcher of the Week and after a solid season last year with the Tigers, where he was third in most of the pitching statistical categories, he thoroughly impressed everyone this year.
“My first year was a struggle, I mostly started and it was a big change in the level of play,” Sanchez said. “I found it hard to focus, everything was new, the weather, the school and I had to adapt.”
Sanchez, who credits the support he received from his family for his success, said the birth of his daughter Zoey brought his life and baseball sharply into focus.
“It changed my life ... got me serious about playing and school,” Sanchez, who will graduate from Iowa Wesleyan this fall after completing his last three classes, said. “I put in the extra work in both areas and I had adapted to the weather and venues and the other teams.”
Sanchez will now await Major League Baseball’s amateur draft next month with hopes of keeping his baseball career moving forward.
“I had the year I wanted and I was able to get ‘looks’ but if I go undrafted I’ll try out as a free agent because I want to give it a chance,” Sanchez said. “I’ve filled out the paperwork and that’s all I can do for now.”
Sanchez’s coach believes he has a future in baseball.
“Jacob worked hard to become the pitcher and the man he is today,” Less said. “He is a great example to others and shows great character on and off the baseball field and I am looking forward to see him play in the future.”
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