This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
04/20/2022 12:00 AMWhen Jack Angelo first stepped on the pitcher’s mound, he had found his home on the baseball field. Once he started unpacking, Jack settled in nicely and has gone to become the ace of the East Haven baseball team’s starting rotation as a junior this year.
Jack was introduced to baseball by his father Corey when he was three. Jack’s dad also served as his coach during all of his Little League seasons. When his father brought him to the baseball field, Jack instantly fell in love with the sport.
“When he introduced me to baseball, I knew I loved the game,” says Jack. “I knew I fit on the baseball field.”
Jack played Little League in East Haven until the age of nine, when he started playing travel baseball for Northeast Clutch. Jack competed for Northeast Clutch and at Joseph Melillo Middle School from 6th to 8th grade.
When he joined Northeast Clutch, Jack made the decision that he wanted to become a pitcher. While he had always been an infielder, Jack was looking to try something new. The moment he toed the rubber, Jack knew that pitching was going to be a big part of his future.
“I wanted to take it into my own hands. I was always an infielder, but I wanted to be a pitcher and try something different,” Jack says. “Everything just clicked. It felt like that’s where I belong. I was comfortable on the pitcher’s mound.”
After Jack’s freshman season was canceled due to COVID-19, he joined the Yellowjackets as a sophomore and was cross-rostered between the JV and varsity teams. Jack loved playing high school baseball alongside some of his best friends. Being around familiar teammates, Jack had a positive environment in which he could improve.
As he entered his junior season, Jack saw the Easties as a young team with a lot of potential. He wanted to do his part on the mound, but also be a leader. Jack viewed his junior season as a way to step up and show everyone that he was willing to do anything he could to help the Yellowjackets.
“I knew we were going to have a pretty good team. We’re a young team. I wanted to step up,” says Jack. “I wanted to take it into my hands that I could be the guy to lead this team. We’re all going to be there for each other. If I could help them win, I want to do it any way possible.”
Although he may not be the hardest thrower on the mound, Jack hits his spots and knows how to mix in good offspeed pitches. Jack, a right-hander, had an opportunity to display that approach when he took the ball for East Haven’s first home game of the season against Wilbur Cross on April 4.
Jack pitched a complete game four-hitter with 11 strikeouts in 7 innings to lead the Easties to a 4-0 victory versus Cross. Jack entered his start looking to keep things simple and knew that his teammates would have his back behind him.
“I just tried to do my job on the mound. I let my team put up runs for me,” Jack says. “I did the best I could. We always help each other.”
In addition to being a pitcher, Jack is still maintaining his roots as an infielder by starting at second base for East Haven on the days he doesn’t pitch. Jack enjoys playing second base and feels glad that he can help the Yellowjackets in a variety of ways on the diamond.
Head Coach Butch Johnson says that Jack has emerged as a leader while dedicating himself to the game of baseball. Whenever Jack is on the hill for the Easties, Coach Johnson knows that they have a good shot to come out on top.
“Jack brings leadership, hard work, and dedication,” says Johnson. “We feel that every time Jack takes the mound, we have a great chance for a win.”
While the pitcher’s mound is his home, Jack knows that a home is nothing without its foundation. Jack found his foundation as a member of East Haven baseball team and feels grateful every time he takes the field with his fellow Yellowjackets.
“It’s great. I love the title of being a baseball player,” Jack says. “I think it’s fun playing a sport, especially one that I love, with my best friends.”