Senior Jake Gartley truly left his mark on OLSH. He is a standout baseball player, and played a pivotal role in the Charger victory the 2020 WPIAL Basketball Championship. Jake and I discussed his journey to this point, his senior year, and his plans for the future.

Q: How long have you been playing baseball?

A: In my backyard since I was two, but I started playing organized baseball when I was five.

Q: How and why did you fall in love with baseball?

A: Its always been my favorite sport. My family member are all baseball fans and my dad played in college, so I grew up always watching baseball at my grandparents and wanting to play like my dad.

Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals?

A: Saying a prayer.

Q: Favorite memory from OLSH Baseball?

A: I have two. Going to Myrtle Beach my sophomore year for spring training was really fun and a great team bonding experience. And winning our first round playoff game last year against Riverside was so exciting because it was most of the players’ first time playing and winning a playoff game.

Q: What is your outlook on the season, considering the coronavirus epidemic?

A: I really believe we’re still going to get a chance to play, and Coach McCarren has reminded us to keep it in our prayers every day. The season is definitely going to look a lot different, but at this point I just want to get out there and play because we have unfinished business from last year.

Q: What is your outlook on the basketball season that is still on hold?

A: I really believe we’ll get to finish this as well, and once we return, I think we have a great chance to win the state championship. We are so close and are playing really well together as a team during this playoff run.

Q: You took 5 charges in the WPIAL Championship game. Is that just a gift, or something that you practice?

A: It’s not something I practice, but I’ve been doing it in games since grade school, so you could say I’ve had a lot of practice in games.

Q: You made shirts for some of the guys on the basketball team. Could you fill us in a little more on that?

A: So I made t-shirts for all the guys who have taken a charge in a game this year, JV or Varsity, because sometimes guys who are role players don’t get any recognition. For me, it was a way to celebrate role players a little bit and get those JV guys some recognition and show them that they have an important job on this team, even though they’re not scoring a lot of points. Plus, who celebrates taking charges? So it’s just something unique to that group of guys.

Q: You plan on attending Penn State in the fall. Are you excited? Nervous? Both?

A: Well, I’m definitely excited because I’ve always been a Penn State kid my whole life, and I have a lot of friends going there. I’m also nervous because it’s a lot bigger than OLSH, to say the least.

Q: Do you have any future plans for baseball? 

A: In the immediate future, I’m either going to tryout to walk-on at Penn State or play for their club team, which travels and plays other schools around Pennsylvania. In the future, I’d love to be a coach someday or even work in the front office for a baseball team.

Q: What has kept you motivated throughout your journey?

A: My motivation has been getting the most out of the gifts I’ve been given and using them as best I can. I honestly am not the most athletic kid, so I’ve had to work hard to improve those physical abilities while also using my mental strength to make up for not being the fastest or biggest athlete.

Q: What is some advice you’d give to someone thinking about playing OLSH baseball?

A: My advice would be enjoy every moment because it all goes by really fast. Do whatever you’re asked to do because the coaches will put you in the right position to succeed and help the team, even if you don’t think so at first.

Jake is a very focused, determined, and hardworking-person. He is a great role model for the OLSH community.