By RICHIE HALL
When Jake Andriole came to Guerin Catholic, everyone noticed that he liked to play at a fast pace.
That speed drove the senior pitcher to some remarkable numbers for his senior season, and booked him a trip to the All-Star game. Andriole will be one of six Hamilton County players to compete in the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association North-South All-Star Series, which begins today at Four Winds Field in South Bend.
Andriole will become the second Guerin Catholic player in three years to compete in the All-Star Series, this after fellow pitcher Luke Buehler went two years ago. This year was Andriole’s only year in a Golden Eagles uniform, but he certainly made it a memorable one.
“I was really, really excited,” said Andriole. “I felt blessed for the opportunity that I was given. I was just excited. I’ve grown up watching players go play in that game and finally got a chance.”
Jake, who will play for the South team, played for three years at Cathedral before transferring to GC this year. His father, Rich Andriole, was the long time coach for the Irish, and assumed the head coaching duties at Guerin this season.
“It was a really unique year because I’ve been really blessed in that I’ve had an opportunity to coach my older son Nick at Cathedral,” said Rich Andriole. “He and Jake played together at Cathedral. To be able to spend this season with Jake, there’s just no way I can adequately describe what that’s like and to have him go out with his teammates and compete at a high level day in and day out. It was real gratifying. Nick was able to coach the last few weeks with us, too.”
Jake played for his father at Cathedral for two years before Rich Andriole stepped down as head coach. Ed Freije coached Cathedral during Jake’s junior year, when the Irish won the Class 4A state championship.
“It was really exciting playing for my dad again,” said Jake Andriole. He credits his father with helping him “develop my skills” and also said “it was really fun playing with a new team and getting a new experience” – he found good chemistry with the Golden Eagles team.
“It was a terrific experience,” said Rich Andriole. “Guerin Catholic is a tremendous school and a growing school.”
The coach was impressed by the school’s facilities and the people. “For a Catholic school, you don’t see many Catholic schools with facilities like Guerin Catholic has on campus,” said Rich Andriole. “I do think there are a couple other schools in our conference that have comparable facilities.”
And of course, the people are great, too. Rich Andriole called them “genuine and supportive and really just terrific to work with. All of the families were tremendous. It was a terrific year.”
Jake Andriole finished the season with a 5-5 record, but this was against a difficult schedule. And Jake’s numbers are unimpeachable. He threw 78 strikeouts in 60 innings, and his earned-run average was and outstanding 0.81.
“What really worked for Jake throughout the whole year was his ability to command the game and the pace of the game,” said Rich Andriole, who noted that at times during the season, Jake was throwing a pitch every nine to 11 seconds.
“That’s speeding the game up and I think he did a good job all year long of keeping hitters uncomfortable,” said Rich Andriole. “There’s no question that the defense around him made some terrific plays in each and every game that he pitched.”
“I think anytime a player is acknowledged or recognized in any way, it’s indicative of the player’s achievements and accomplishments,” said Rich Andriole. The coach also thinks it represents the contributions of his teammates as well. “No pitcher gets three out by himself, no hitter does it all alone, either,” he said.
The All-Star Series begins with a doubleheader that starts at 11 a.m. today, then a wooden bat game to conclude the series at noon on Sunday.
“I just hope to meet some new guys, just have a fun time and try to compete and win,” said Jake Andriole. “That’s always the goal.”
Rich Andriole hopes his son, and all the other players in South Bend, remember to understand the opportunity they have been given.
“I think it’s important that all the players playing realize how lucky they are,” said Rich Andriole. “There are a lot of good players statewide that won’t get the opportunity to play. Indiana has become a bountiful area for baseball. And I think you see that with the success of not only the high school programs, but the success of the college programs.
“I hope that Jake is out there and he takes a second to really let it sink in that he and the other almost 50 guys out there just are really blessed to have an opportunity to not only represent themselves and their families, but also their schools and to be recognized for some gifts that they have. I think they’re all extremely fortunate.”
Guerin Catholic’s Jake Andriole will represent the Golden Eagles in this weekend’s Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association North-South All-Star Series, which takes place in South Bend. (Photo provided)