After just two seasons with the Pack, junior righthander Jake Buchanan knows a thing or two about weathering the storm. He has been on the mound for tremendous highs and frustrating lows. But after a dominating season in the summer leagues and several weeks of indoor practice, Buchanan and his young team are prepared to get things headed back in the right direction.
Expectations were high for the Pack last year after the team was one game away from a trip to Omaha for the College World Series during the spring of 2008. However, the team stumbled out of the gate and missed the postseason completely.
Buchanan said the players’ minds weren’t in the right place to start the season, and that’s something that has been corrected.
“We started thinking ahead way too early,” Buchanan said. “This year we know we have to take it one game at a time and try to win every inning.”
Though he struggled along with his team as the second or third back-up in 2009, Buchanan never lost the faith of head coach Elliott Avent.
“I know what Jake Buchanan’s all about,” Avent said. “I saw Jake as a freshman in Georgia win the second game to put us one game away from the World Series. He has a big heart and a strong mind. He’s going to give you everything he’s got.”
Buchanan said he keeps his head down and stays out of the way of his famously fiery coach.
“You have to get on his good side,” Buchanan. “He likes me a lot, so he’s never had one of his rants directed toward me. I’ve learned over the years that you just have to do your stuff and he’ll leave you alone.”
Buchanan said Avent was a great help when he was deciding where to spend his summer. Avent felt strongly about his playing against some of the best players college baseball has to offer with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod league.
Buchanan’s summer was productive, to put it lightly. With Cotuit, Buchanan went 3-1 with a 0.84 ERA. He started in six of seven appearances and allowed 33 hits and six walks while striking out 38 in 43 innings. He collected several accolades, including Cape League pitcher of the week and a spot on the Cape Cod League’s postseason All-Cape League team. His team fell in the championship series.
Buchanan said his time in Massachusetts was spent working on his weaker areas.
“It was a great experience going to the Cape Cod league and pitching, working a lot on all speeds and changing it up,” Buchanan said. “I didn’t get a chance to do many change-ups here, but now I think that’s one of my better pitches. It was a good experience playing with some of the best players in the country, and hopefully that will rub off on this year and help me on the mound.”
Buchanan said the biggest difference between his freshman season, when he cemented his status as a trustworthy weekend starter, and today’s first day of the 2010 campaign is that he now “knows what to expect.”
“I felt decent my freshman year but had some trouble last year, so it felt good to get back on the dominant side of the mound [over the summer,]” Buchanan said. “You just have to be confident with what you have. [Coach] likes to have me out there and I think I’ve proved myself over the years with some quality innings. Hopefully I can have more of those.”
The Pack’s newest go-to guy will have plenty of opportunity to show State fans he is back to form as he said he is slated for three starts in the Pack’s first seven games.
His teammates, on the other hand, already know what he can do.
“He means a lot to us. He’s been there,” senior Dallas Poulk said. “He’s a hard-nosed guy and we love to watch him go out there and compete. We’re excited to get him out there and see what he can do.”
