The rain kept pouring during the beginning of the 2022 baseball season, as practicing outdoors was nearly impossible.
Walking into a small gym at Midview High School in late March of that year, one of the first players to be introduced by coach Ryan Morgan was infielder Zak Jockel. Jockel also dabbled in pitching, though he had a solid swing and plenty of room for growth as only a sophomore.
Now a senior, Jockel’s promise as a ball player didn’t go unnoticed. On Sept. 26, Jockel committed to Lawrence Tech to continue his baseball career.
I am excited to announce my commitment to Lawrence Tech University to continue my academic and athletic career. Thank you to my friends, coaches and family for everything they have helped me with throughout my career@PremierOhio2024 @MidviewBaseball @LTU_Baseball pic.twitter.com/homBDMxGTt
— Zak_Jockel23 (@zak_jockel23) September 27, 2023
A school based in Southfield, Michigan, Jockel and the Blue Devils staff first connected back during the summer.
“They reached out to me over the summer during my (summer) season, and I went out for a visit,” Jockel recalled, with any image of what he had in mind for the school flipped on it’s head upon arrival.
“When I got there, it was a super nice, brand-new, updated and renovated STEM school. That really interested me because I wanted to be somewhere where I could see myself (being at) for the next four years and enjoy being there. The dorms were really nice, which was really big for me when looking at a college. That’s basically going to be my house for the next four years.”
Jockel explained a lot of smaller schools don’t often have a great place to train, especially during the winter months. At Lawrence Tech, he found indoor facilities just off campus and a gym to train during the offseason.
“When I got there, all the coaches were really nice and it’s a good environment in general.”
Lawrence Tech also helped Jockel figure out his academic major, deciding on industrial engineering after previously being undecided on a path toward a career.
Bouncing back to the coaching staff, assistant coach Jim Mancuso was among the first to touch base with the Midview senior and stayed in contact until his summer season ended.
“We hopped on a call and he said he wanted me down there,” Jockel said. “When I got there, that’s when I met all the other assistant coaches and the head coach.”
Mancuso and the staff originally saw Jockel as a pitcher. With Midview’s staff filled with high-level performers the past few years, Jockel wasn’t usually taking the hill until summer season.
“When I got down there, I told them I was more of a two-way guy,” he noted. “They seemed to like that and I talked to more of the hitting coach and (head coach) Stan Eldridge. He had me go down and practice with them and I like how they run things, where everything’s on a schedule and organized so there’s no standing around.”
Midview’s 2024 team is shaping up to be one of its most talented in ages. Beyond Jockel’s commitment, Joey Melendez (Seton Hill) and David Moore (University of Akron) are among a couple of recent commitments for the Middies, with more potentially on tap. It’s going to be a big season, with the SWC conference one of the tougher eight-team leagues around.
“I’m definitely excited for this year, I think it’s going to be our best season in the four years I’ve been there.”
