Jason Zegarski watched Jeffrey Blake explode for the Hopewell Valley Central High baseball team this spring. But the Lawrence Post 414 legion manager wasn’t surprised, as he had seen that show last summer as well.
“We already knew he had it in him,” Zegarski said.
And he had it again this summer, as Blake was hitting .412 with an OPS at nearly 1.100 entering the New Jersey State Final 8 Tournament that ran July 21-26. He had seven doubles, two triples, 15 RBI and eight runs scored.
“I hit pretty well last year,” Blake said entering the states. “I was a lot more of a singles hitter last year with a lot of line drives. That was my mentality. This year I’m trying to work the gaps, swing a little harder. Get some more power behind it.”
But Zegarski doesn’t want too much focus on power.
“As a hitter, it’s nice to see guys that will go the other way,” the manager said. “Sometimes he tries to hit it out a little bit, we have to tell him, ‘Hey, Jeffrey, reign it in. Just try to hit it up the middle.’ He has to let his big length provide the power for him.
“He’s also one of our top rotation pitchers. You know he’ll give you five, six, seven innings on the bump. It’s nice to have a pitcher who can also play the field. It’s nice to have someone who can do it all.”
Blake recorded a 2-1 record this summer, with one save, a 3.38 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 18-2/3 innings pitched.
“He’s always one of those number one, number two starters,” Zegarski said. “He competes. He’s got a fastball, change-up and slider. I like him because he’s big, he’s long, he’s lanky. As a hitter those were always the pitchers I hated to hit the most, because it seemed like the ball was right on top of you.”
Blake is coming off a high school season in which he was named the Bulldogs Most Valuable Player and earned All-CVC honors from several outlets. He hit .362 with three doubles, a triple, home run, 14 walks, 22 RBI, a .538 on-base average, .462 slugging percentage and 1.000 OPS.
That came on the heels of two straight high school campaigns in which he hit .263 both seasons.
On the mound, he was 7-2 with a 0.89 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 55 innings. In his previous two years he had a 3.10 ERA with 32 Ks in 40 innings.
There were a few differences from years past, said Ken Harrison, who recently stepped down as HVCHS head coach after 20 years. Harrison noted that Blake was both physically stronger and mentally more mature in his approach to the game.
Most importantly, Blake was pitching pain free during his senior season. He broke his ankle a few months before his junior season, and dealt with that the whole season. “This winter, I trained like crazy,” he said. “I never worked so hard for something. I came out and it was the most prepared I’d ever been for a season.”
His ability to prepare made a big difference, not to mention he was no longer worried about where he would play in college.
After contacting numerous schools, Blake was intrigued by Hartford. Despite the fact it was dropping from Division I to Division III, he was impressed by the school and baseball program. He attended a showcase camp last summer and looked good enough to be called back for a private tour in November.
“I met with all the coaches and everybody,” he said. “We agreed on some things and that was it. They have great coaches, great facilities. Everything is really nice.”
Blake was recruited as both a left-side infielder and pitcher. He considers himself a position player who can pitch, but added with a laugh: “If I go out there and do outstanding as a pitcher, I’m not gonna fight it.”
With his future secured, Blake was free to have fun during the high school season. “I was going out there to enjoy myself and play for the team and my own accomplishments, not to try and get recognized,” he said. “I was thrilled with the season. I pitched great this year. I really came into my own on the mound. I could have done maybe a little better hitting, but I can’t complain.”
Zegarski saw a marked improvement in Blake’s demeanor this summer. “He didn’t let a bad at-bat get to him as much as he did last year,” he said.
Blake started his career in Hopewell rec, where he also played travel. When the travel program began losing players, Jeffrey played for the Flemington A’s and Gallagher Baseball. He remained in travel until last summer, then opted for legion.
“I think legion’s great,” he said. “You’re playing baseball every single day. I don’t see a need to go play for another team or two. I’m playing three to four games a week. Especially this year, when I’m already going up to college. I just want to have a good time during the summer and just enjoy my summer baseball.”
Blake came up big in a key close one when he delivered two doubles and an RBI in Lawrence’s 4-3 win over North Hamilton in the state tournament play-in game.
“It would have been bad (to lose to North Hamilton),” he said. “That would have been a real heart crusher.”
After legion season, Blake will get ready for Hartford and try to follow in the footsteps of his big brother. Andy Blake also emerged late in his HVCHS career and is currently playing in the Los Angeles Angels organization.
“You can’t count anything out,” he said. “Andy helped me a lot. Any time I’d go out training, Andy was right there, always the person who was working hard. You can never let him too far ahead, so I always worked to keep up.”
In looking at the two, Harrison sees some similarities and differences.
“Jeff and Andy have different personalities and demeanors in my opinion,” he said. “But they each are great individuals. They both are outstanding players and do many things well on the baseball field.
“However, I don’t think it’s fair to compare siblings. They each are their own individuals and are outstanding players in their own right. They both had similar paths to success and playing time at the varsity level. Both played as sophomores and juniors and both took off their senior years. I can tell you one thing for sure is that I enjoyed coaching both of them immensely.”
Just as Zegarski enjoyed having Jeffrey this summer.
“I know he’s more mature, but it was nice to see him take that step to be a leader this year,” the manager said. “He’s definitely got it in his blood with his brother. It’s nice to see his work being rewarded. And he fits in with all the guys on the team.”
That’s no easy task, considering the players come from five different schools.
“During the year you’re all rivals, but for some reason during the summer everyone on this team comes together,” Blake said. “It’s been a great time. The coaches are really great. It’s just a good group of guys.”
Jeffrey Blake at bat for Hopewell Valley Post 414 in legion baseball. (Photo by Tim Lengle.),
