Jake DeSane entered Wednesday’s ballgame against Delaware Valley with one out in the third inning.

A sophomore righty with a devastating slider, DeSane began the year pitching for Wallenpaupack Area’s JV team.

However, as the season has progressed...and the Buckhorns have continued to struggle in Division One...Jake was promoted to the varsity squad. It’s a decision rookie skipper Jerry Capone hasn’t regretted for a single moment.

“Jake’s done an outstanding job for us this season,” Coach Capone told TWI Sports. “He is the kind of kid who isn’t afraid to go out there and compete. I think he’s going to be a very good pitcher at this level.”

A Little Help
DeSane finished his warm-up tosses Wednesday, received  last minute instructions from pitching coach Todd Schmalzle and got ready to go.

Jake took a knee behind the mound and bowed his head for a moment of meditation. He then bounded to his feet, crossed himself and pointed to the heavens.

“Before every inning I say a short prayer,” Jake said. “I ask my Dad to help me be strong and pitch well. We were very close. I still carry my Dad with me everywhere.”

Jake’s father, Joe DeSane, passed away suddenly during the summer of 2008. He was a ballplayer himself, a standout third baseman who passed his love of the game on to his son.

On Wednesday, DeSane appeared in relief of starter Chris Peterson, who ran into trouble in the top of the third. Jake kept the Bucks within striking distance, leaving the game two in-nings later trailing 5-3.

Sadly, those three runs are all the Bucks could manage on this day. DV put together a pair of big rallies late in the game and cruised to an 11-3 Division One victory. DeSane surrendered three hits and just one earned run. He struck out three Warriors and didn’t walk a batter.

Jake relies heavily on a nasty slider...a pitch he’s not afraid to throw no matter what the count or game situation. He also possesses an above average fastball that he can locate with impressive precision.

“I’m pretty happy with how I pitched today,” Jake said. “I love throwing the slider, that’s definitely my bread and butter pitch. I wish we were doing a little bit better as a team, but I think we’ll come around.”

While DeSane loves to pitch, he’s also quick to point out that he’ll do whatever it takes to help Paupack win. Against DV, that included moving to third base late in the game as a defensive replacement.

While manning the Hot Corner, Jake flashed some of the skills his Dad helped hone over many years of Little League and Teeners.

In the top of the sixth, pinch hitter Mike Wooley ripped a shot down the third baseline. The ball took a nasty hop right in front of DeSane, but he held his ground. The horsehide leapt up and nailed Jake in the chest, but he recovered quickly and no runs scored.

Reliever John Gardepe fanned the next batter he faced and Paupack was out of the inning.

“I’m very comfortable playing Jake at third base,” said Coach Capone. “He’s a tough kid who works hard in practice and he’s come a long way in a relatively short time this season.”

Disappointing Loss
Peterson drew the starting nod for Wednesday’s game and pitched well into the top of the third inning. Chris issued a lead-off walk to Corey Wilson to start the game. A stolen base and two ground balls later, DV had itself a 1-0 advantage.

Paupack wasted no time in retaliating, plating three runs in the home second to take a 3-1 lead. Erik Pulkkinen got things going with a one-out walk. Moments later, the bases were load-ed after O’Heren singled and Gardepe was hit by a pitch.

Brendan Beilman hit into a fielder’s choice to get the Bucks on the board. Then with two out and the bases juiced again, Corey Capone delivered Paupack’s biggest hit of the day.

A senior shortstop who’s been struggling at the plate this year, Capone smoked a clean single up the pipe. Corey’s single chased home both O’Heren and Beilman...much to the delight of the hometown crowd.

“Early in the game, our enthusiasm was up,” said Coach Capone. “I felt like we could come in here and play with these guys. Corey came up with a big basehit to give us a lead and I thought we were in pretty good shape. Then, the wheels started coming off...”

The Warriors erupted for four runs in the third, then put the game away with a six-run uprising in the sixth.

Tim Knesick paced DV’s offensive attack with two hits and five RBIs. Zack Hubbard also contributed a pair of base knocks in support of starter Mike Pena. A senior righty, Pena pitched into the seventh before handing the ball off to southpaw  Nick Torkildsen, who recorded the final two outs.

Capone led the Bucks with two hits in four at-bats.

Ian Dassance was robbed of a homer late in the game on a terrific play by Mike Accardi. The Warriors’ centerfielder reached over the fence to make a diving SportsCenter-worthy catch.

“That’s our season in a nut shell right there,” Coach Capone said with a shake of the head. “Ian just crushed that ball, but he hit it to the deepest part of the field and their kid made an amazing catch. We just can’t buy a break right now.”

Peterson absorbed the loss, going 21/3 innings and allowing five earned runs on five hits. Chris struck out five and issued four walks.

Score by Innings...
DV (8-3)    1  0  4  0  0  6  0 - 11
WA (1-11)  0  3  0  0  0  0  0 -  3