Jake Perry had a breakout season in 2012, helping lead Webster Groves HS to a ten game win streak to end the regular season and capture the Suburban South Conference title with a 14-12 record (6-1 conference record).

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound catcher hit .296 with seven doubles, two triples, and fifteen RBIs on the season, asserted himself as a leader of the team. He has also shown to be a quality defensive catcher and knows how to handle a pitching staff.

PBR: Which schools were you considering prior to committing to Valparaiso?

Perry: Austin Peay, Southeast Missouri State, Jefferson College, and Miami Ohio.

PBR: What were the reasons that you ultimately chose Valparaiso?

Perry: I chose Valparaiso because they’re an outstanding academic university, and they have a great baseball program. I knew it would be a great place to grow as a student and as a ball player.

 

PBR: What was the relationship you had with the Valparaiso coaches in the recruitment process?

Perry: I had a great relationship with the Valparaiso coaches. The coaches are all great guys who seem to truly care about their players a great deal. They always stayed in touch and made sure that I knew I was their number one guy. 

 

PBR: Do you feel that playing in Missouri and facing the competition you do has prepared you to be a DI player?

Perry: Absolutely, I played with and against many other D1 recruits here in Missouri. Those guys push you to play to your full capability and I’m confident that it has prepared me to play at the next level.

 

PBR:  You have attended a few PBR Showcases.  How did that help you in the recruiting process?

Perry: The PBR Showcases exposed me to many college coaches. I started talking to schools after attending them, and they really jumpstarted the whole recruiting process for me. 

PBR: What are your thoughts on the implementation of BBCOR bats from a hitting and pitching perspective?

Perry: Obviously they hurt you from an offensive perspective compared to BESR bats, but I don’t mind them when I’m catching. They keep games much more crisp and there are fewer long innings.

 

PBR: What team did you play for over the summer and how did it go for you? Were there any aspects of your game that you wanted to improve during the summer?

Perry: I played for the St. Louis Pirates and I had a pretty good summer.  I wanted to improve my pop-time as well as my overall offensive production.

 

PBR: As you head into your senior year, is it good to have the commitment and recruiting process done?

Perry: It is a huge relief to have the recruiting process over, now I can just relax and play ball without the constant pressure of scouts watching.  However, I still have to work hard so that I’m ready to go when I get on campus.

 

PBR: Do you feel that this season will be any different considering that you know where you’ll attend college?

Perry: I think now that I know where I’m going I can just focus on improving my skills. I think it will allow me to play more relaxed which should lead to a successful season.

PBR: What do you hope to accomplish in this upcoming season on an individual level?

Perry: I hope to fine tune all of the aspects of my game so that I become a top notch player and I’m ready to go play college baseball.  

 

PBR: What advice would you give to other players who are just beginning the recruiting process?

Perry: I would tell them to play relaxed in front of scouts and not try and do too much. If you don’t try to impress scouts you will often times play much better. If you do that, you have a better chance of being seen. 

To view Jake's profile, click here.

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