Columbus North had its top two pitchers coming back this season, but coach Ben McDaniel had a plan to use another hurler in most of the Bull Dogs’ Conference Indiana games.
So far, Jakob Meyer has been up to the challenge.
“It was a little intimidating at first, but I realized it’s not that intimidating,” Meyer said. “I just have to go out there and pitch and think that I’m better that all of them. I’m just glad I have the opportunity to be able to start those games.”
The junior righthander has started all five conference games so far this season, and North is 3-2 in those games. The Bull Dogs were leading Terre Haute North 3-1 after six innings Monday night when Meyer exited the game, but fell 4-3.
For the season, Meyer is 3-1, with a 1.26 ERA. He has 49 strikeouts and 13 walks in 27 1/3 innings.
“He is our conference guy,” McDaniel said. “We didn’t finish well in conference last year. With Jacob, we asked him to take care of every conference opponent we have, and he’s responded well to that. If you look at the opponents he’s thrown against, Jakob has gone up against some good opponents.”
That includes Southport and its ace Avery Short. Short, who is regarded as the top junior pitcher in the state, has committed to Indiana University.
Last week, Meyer threw a two-hit shutout and struck out 17 in a 3-0 eight-inning win at Southport.
“I was just amped up for that game because I knew I was facing Avery Short,” Meyer said. “I just wanted to win. The middle innings, I was a little tired, but the last couple innings, I got my adrenaline back pumped up, and I felt great going back out there.”
Meyer has made big gains in the weight room, and as a result, his velocity has improved. He has gone from throwing in the 82-83 mph range last year to throwing 88 in a game this season.
But Meyer’s biggest gains may have come from the mental side of the game.
“I’ve embraced lifting more,” Meyer said. “The last couple years, I didn’t really care to do it. This year, I realized it will help me. But I think I’ve made a lot of strides from last year, more mentally than physically, because last year I was intimidated by high school playing, but this year, I’ve settled in.”
McDaniel said Meyer has put in the work — both in the weight room and in the throwing program — to continue to get better, and he’s realizing the results of that this year.
But McDaniel also has realized that just as important as the physical side has been Meyer’s mental improvement.
“He tries to not let things get to him when he’s on the mound,” McDaniel said. “He’s historically had some games where he’s had a bad inning on the mound, and he’s walked a few people. The Southport game, he maintained his focus every inning, and he did the same thing against Terre Haute North (Monday) night, as well.”
Meyer’s improvement has netted him a Division I scholarship. He committed April 15 to continue his career at University of Evansville.
Meyer, who had visited Evansville twice before that official weekend visit, likely would have picked up more offers from bigger schools, but he was content with the Aces.
“I just felt like the coaches were welcoming,” Meyer said. “Outside of baseball, I feel like they’re going to take care of me and the opportunities after baseball and after college. Once I went down there and got my offer, I was pretty much sold on Evansville.”
But first, Meyer has another year-and-a-half of high school baseball to play, beginning with tonight’s home contest against Columbus East.
Meyer was the No. 4 pitcher on last year’s Bull Dogs team that reached the final four in Class 4A. With him, along with Indiana University recruits Casper Clark and Parker Maddox, forming an intimidating pitching trio, they’re looking to go a little farther this year.
“We have the talent to make another deep run like we did last year,” Meyer said. “We’ve come along way, but we still have a couple pieces we have to put together.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Columbus East at Columbus North baseball
When: 5:30 p.m. today
Where: Southside Elementary
[sc:pullout-text-end]
