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08/19/2015 12:00 AMJake Faulkingham recently graduated from Old Saybrook and the star pitcher will undoubtedly be missed both on the Rams’ ballfield and in the community.
At 6-foot-3, Jake is an intimidating figure on the mound who befuddles hitters with his lively fastball, plus a devastating changeup that a St. John’s scout deemed “Major League worthy.” Jake, who competed for the Shoreline Senior Legion squad this summer, will now take his talent to Massachusetts, where he will pitch for perennial Division III powerhouse Salem State University. With Jake, the Vikings are not only getting a quality hurler with a strong right arm, but also a solid leader who has a big heart.
“Jake is a fantastic young man. I’ve watched him grow up since the 7th grade and he’s a classy kid on and off the field. He stayed late after practice and games either to help clean up or to help the younger players, taking them under his wing. They all gravitated towards him because he is the definition of an empathetic leader—very caring and laid-back,” says Old Saybrook baseball Coach Dan Driscoll. “Jake was always the one who made sure everyone was OK. He was like an extension of the coaching staff, really took a leadership role, and I loved coaching him.”
Jake proved a dominating player all around the diamond for Driscoll’s squad, a four-year letterman who accounted for five of the Rams’ six wins in his recent senior season. Jake finished the year with a 5-2 record, an tidy earned-run average of 1.60, plus 65 strikeouts. He also played third base and batted .386 with 14 RBI.
Jake has additionally made quite an impact in his community by working as an assistant basketball coach at Old Saybrook Middle School for his senior project.
“I loved coaching the kids, helping them to improve their confidence, their shooting, dribbling, and overall game. It was really fun working with the kids and I learned a lot at the same time,” Jake says. “Being an assistant coach helped me become a more vocal leader, where before I was always kind of quiet and led by example. The whole experience was really rewarding all the way around and I think it helped me take my abilities to the next level this season.”
This summer, Jake was one of the brightest spots for the Shoreline Senior Legion baseball team. He finished the campaign with a 3-3 record and a sub-2.00 ERA. Jake threw his best against the toughest competition. In a contest against Zone 3 champion Cheshire, Jake pitched the Bulldogs to a 1-0 win behind a complete game four-hitter. Jake also displayed versatility and selflessness by playing seven positions throughout the campaign and thus earned the nickname “Utility” from his teammates.
“Jake was the best high school player I’ve ever coached. We didn’t give him a lot of run support, but he kept us in every game and, when he was on the mound, we always had a chance to win and he was very competitive,” says Shoreline Coach Michael Grant. “Jake never wanted to come out of the game. He always showed up ready to play and went in with the mind frame he was going seven every time. Not only is Jake an extremely talented baseball player, but he was very coachable and a positive influence on the team. His leadership and camaraderie in the clubhouse was outstanding. I would say Jake is a great player and a great role model.”
As Jake heads off to play at Salem, he brings a formidable arsenal of pitches to the program. To complement a fastball that reaches 88 miles per hour, Jake uses his best pitch—a deceptive changeup—to keep hitters off-balance. His repertoire also features a sinking two-seam fastball, a slider with fierce movement, plus a rising four-seam heater he can unleash from his back pocket if needed.
“I have 100-percent confidence in all my pitches, but my strategy on the mound isn’t to overpower people.” Jake says. “I try to think ahead of the hitter, change speeds, use different pitches to keep them off-balance—use both sides of the plate, get ahead in the count, and pitch to contact, try to induce ground balls.”
Although Jake will soon be venturing to Massachusetts to continue his career as a top pitching prospect, his heart will always remain in his hometown of Old Saybrook.
“I’m really looking forward to playing at Salem State University and being part of a solid program with a tradition of winning and a great coaching staff. But I’d also like to thank all the people who supported me here at home because I would never be in this position without them,” says Jake. “And I’m definitely going to miss all my teammates and coaches. We had a really fun group of guys and they taught me how to handle myself and play to a higher level.”