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Jace Burke, RHP, Walsh Jesuit, Class of 2017

PBR: Why did you choose Evansville?

Burke: Evansville was the right fit for me for several reasons.  From a baseball standpoint, Evansville has great momentum with 6 winning seasons in the last 7 years.  They compete in the Missouri Valley Conference, which is very balanced from top to bottom and has been ranked in the top 5 to 7 D1 baseball conferences for several years.  My education is very important to me and Evansville has great academic programs, specifically in my primary areas of interest.  I also believe it is going to be a very good fit for me socially.  Coach Carroll and the rest of the coaching staff really made me feel like family right out of the gate.  They offered me early, stayed in touch with me throughout and made it clear that I was a recruiting priority. 

PBR: What other schools were you considering?

Burke: I was considering mainly MAC schools but also Big 10 and Big 12.  I visited schools of lots of different sizes and learned a lot about myself during the process.

PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you and how did your relationship develop?

Burke: I believe they saw me play a couple of games at Grand Park, but they followed me to the PBR Future Games last year. After the Future Games, they contacted me through my summer coach, and worked with me to set up a visit last year.  They continued to follow me to Top Prospect Games and Grand Park this year.  Been very consistent and that meant a lot.

PBR: Was the recruiting process what you expected?

Burke: I grew up with kids like Ryan Feltner and Ty Shoaff, who made the seem relatively easy. However, I found out it was not as easy as it looks. It was very tough and painstaking, but I am glad I pushed through all of the stress that comes along with it because I am truly happy with my decision.

PBR: How does it feel to be a part of a Division 1 baseball program?

Burke: Amazing! It has been a dream for me since I was a little kid. I have worked extremely hard and overcome some tough injuries along the way.  It just makes me realize that dreams can come true with a ton of hard work, a stable approach and being surrounded by really good people. 

PBR: Who do you play for in the summer and what was the most memorable experience from this summer?

Burke: I play for Ohio Elite North with Coach McNerney. My most memorable experience would be throwing my first game after committing and finally being able to relax and have fun playing baseball  I felt like a kid again!

PBR:  What person has the greatest impact on your baseball career and why?

Burke: My father by far has had the biggest impact on my baseball career. The guy has been there for me every day that I have struggled and every day that I have succeeded, He has always reminded me that baseball is a game and it doesn’t define who I am as a person. He instilled the importance of strong character and hard work into me at an early age, and it is something I remember to this day.

PBR: What were your stats this spring season?

Burke: Unfortunately, I did not play much this spring due to a hamstring injury.  I came out of the gate strong on the mound and hot at the plate, but I only played the first few weeks and didn’t return until the last couple weeks of the season.

PBR: Who is the toughest hitter that you have faced in Ohio?

Burke: Dominic Canzone was by far the toughest hitter I have ever faced. I got the chance to pitch against him every winter in the spring offseason, which helped me to take my pitching approach to a new level. That kid makes hitting look too easy.