FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | By: Rio Frame, MSUB Media Relations Intern New Faces: MSUB baseball freshman Jake McGovern
A Billings West High School graduate, Yellowjacket baseball freshman Jake McGovern represents the next wave of homegrown talent that is set to lead MSUB’s program over the next few seasons. MSUB SPORTS – Though Montana State University Billings baseball first baseman Jake McGovern is just a freshman, he understands the mental side of the game in a way that makes it hard to believe it is only his first year in the college game. He knows that one bad game, or play, does not represent his baseball career as a whole. That became clear from the moment he stepped on MSUB’s campus, through a successful fall season and now into the start of his collegiate career. “He had a good fall,” stated MSUB head coach Rob Bishop. “He had a couple little stretches where he struggled a bit, but most freshmen struggle all fall season.” McGovern’s overall easy personality and passion for the game of baseball aids in his ability to move past his errors to improve himself as a player. McGovern is a native of the Billings area, graduating from Billings West High School. By deciding to join the Yellowjackets’ roster, McGovern found some familiar faces. Utility player Myles Berkram played with McGovern on the Billings Scarlets, and coached him during his sophomore year. Luke Reinschmidt and Matt Dillon, who play center field and catcher for the Yellowjackets respectively, previously played for the Royals located in Billings. “I grew up in Billings,
but still did not know anything about MSUB’s baseball team,” mentioned McGovern. “I talked to Myles about the program. He really helped me make my decision.” Another person who helped McGovern decide to continue his athletic career was his father Kevin. His father was the one who would go out and play catch or help McGovern hit, even though he knew very little about baseball. Recalling his dad’s decision to quit college football and how he later regretted it also pushed McGovern into pursuing a college baseball career. “I decided that I was just going to go play and see how it went,” McGovern stated after sharing that his previous plan had been to attend Montana State University in Bozeman before committing to the Yellowjackets. “It has been really fun thus far, so it’s a win to me.” Montana high schools do not offer the option of playing baseball, so most athletes join a legion league if they have an interest in the game. McGovern’s enthusiasm for the game began around seven years old when he joined his first tee ball team. He continued to play through high school where he became part of the Billings Scarlets American Legion team. He played two years on the JV squad before joining the varsity team his junior year of high school. “My junior year I didn’t get to play that much because I was really out of shape,” recalled the first baseman. Due to his lack of playing time, McGovern worked hard over the next year, pushing his body to get into really good shape for his senior year of baseball. McGovern helped lead his Scarlets team to the state championship, and in Bishop’s eyes stood out among a team of talented high school players. “He had probably the best offensive year of any of his teammates and several of those guys went to high level baseball programs for college,” said Bishop. “He had a great senior year.” McGovern’s greatest accomplishment as a baseball player, in his opinion, is helping his team win the state championship game. However, the change between his junior and senior years is quite the achievement as well. Since McGovern played only on a legion team his recruitment window was much smaller than baseball players residing outside of Montana. “Not having high school affiliated baseball teams in Montana affects the players from a recruiting standpoint more than anything else,” said Bishop. “Montana baseball players do get the same amount of games throughout the year as other states’ players, but they are still affected by its absence in the school.” McGovern improved himself at such a rapid pace that his present coaches went from overlooking him, to recruiting and signing him in less than a season. “He was a late add, but we feel like we got lucky,” commented Bishop. “His talent is undeniable and not all young guys are mentally or emotionally prepared to compete right away, but he is.” As a true freshman, McGovern is making strides to become a leader on the Yellowjackets’ baseball team. “I see Jake being one of the leaders of the younger guys as they move through the program,” commented Bishop. “We have four of our infield players graduating this year, so I see Jake having a huge role on the team his sophomore year. If you are capable of making an impact your first two years at this level you are exceptional. That’s what we see in Jake.”
McGovern got some playing time in the opening game for the Yellowjackets against Dixie State. “I got out on the field and I was nervous,” said McGovern with a laugh. “I’ve never been nervous for a baseball game before in my life.” McGovern described how his nerves gave his arm a little more strength when he threw his first ball. “I about overthrew the ball to Corey and almost missed first.” After his initial bouts with jitters, McGovern settled into his game. The first baseman is looking forward to playing in Western Oregon and Washington. “It’s fun to go to different places and play,” said McGovern. “It is a lot different to play now. Everyone at this level is really good.” McGovern seems to enjoy his new teammates and the passion of the game that they all share. He mentioned that his new team felt like old friends as soon as he met them. “I was welcomed right away when I got here,” remembers McGovern. “That is another reason why I like being here at MSUB. We are just like a big family.” A big family is exactly what the baseball team is with a roster of around 40 players. One player in particular who has had a strong influence on McGovern is senior Kevin Toon, who leads by example as the team’s starting first baseman. “He took me in and helped me a lot,” commented McGovern on Toon teaching him the position he hopes to take over full time after this season. McGovern has secured himself a spot on the traveling team that consists of 28 players. However, he is battling a slight foot injury that took him out of some of the games when the Yellowjackets went to Dixie State. Even with this injury Bishop stated, “We are hoping he will play this year. He’s a good, smart player and we see him as getting opportunities to play as a true freshman, which is hard to do at our level.” In his second semester of school, McGovern continues to spend 15 to 20 hours a week practicing with his team, but also enjoys meals, studying, and various activities with those same guys. Being part of an athletic team helps you build a bond with people that is irreplaceable, and that’s what McGovern and his teammates are forming. “All the guys are awesome, and it is already a winning program,” said McGovern wholeheartedly. Baseball is not the only thing that is different for a freshman athlete. He must keep up with the demands of the training program that goes into the offseason, as well as maintain a GPA that is suitable to NCAA standards. “You have so much more time to do what you want now, so it took me a couple weeks to get into the swing of things academically,” said McGovern about his first semester at the MSUB campus. The baseball team has study table, which enables the team to get together to work on any homework that they might have accumulated. McGovern notes that for a freshman this study table is very helpful in keeping organized with the new workload. Last season, McGovern waited in the wings as the Yellowjackets stormed to a Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season title and earned hosting rights for the conference tournament. Last season’s team was built around Montana-grown players like Brody Miller and Billings natives Brady Muller, Lucas Blehm, Blake Loran, and Reinschmidt. Now, it’s McGovern’s turn to represent the next generation of hometown talent. True freshman baseball players normally do not get to play a lot or at all when they begin their collegiate careers, but McGovern is one of the few that does. “I think it’s amazing to get to have the opportunity to play. I worked hard to get here and I’m glad that it is showing,” stated the young player as he talked about having four more opportunities to relive that winning dog pile behind the pitcher’s mound with his new team in the GNAC.