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34 | May 3, 2018 | The Homer Horizon sports
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Athlete of the Week
10 Questions
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with Rich Jesse, Jr.
Rich Jesse, Jr. is a senior at
Lockport Township and a
pitcher on the baseball team.
You tried out for the
baseball team as a
junior and were cut.
Why did you try out
again this year?
I really wanted to come
back and make the team.
With the support of my family,
friends and Rhino Baseball,
I did what I had to do to
come back.
What did you do to get
yourself ready to try
out for the team this
spring?
I was at all the offseason
training, and I was part of
the team. I had a lot of guys
backing me up and helping
me.
Can you describe the
feeling when you found
out that you made
the team to start this
spring?
It was a great feeling. I
worked hard in the offseason,
and to see it pay off and
have a good season like we
are now, is a great feeling.
When did you first start
playing baseball?
I first played T-ball when
I was 3 years old at the First
Church of the Nazarene in
Lemont. Then, I played with
the Vipers part of Lockport
Baseball. I’ve pretty much
always pitched, but I’ve also
played the corner positions
of third and first.
Do you play any other
sports?
I played football freshman
through junior year as an offensive
tackle, but I wanted
to keep playing baseball, so
I quit football. This past fall,
I did fall baseball through
Rhino, and it was a blast.
What is it about
baseball that makes it
the sport for you?
Baseball has always been
in my life. My dad and my
grandpa and other family
members have been involved
in it. The game has
taught me so much about
life. Plus, there’s no better
feeling than being on the
mound and throwing.
What have you learned
from Lockport coach
Andy Satunas?
I’ve learned a lot about
teamwork and that your
core pitching is a huge mental
game. He’s taught me to
know that I don’t have to be
afraid, I just have to always
know that the guys in the
field have my back.
The LTHS baseball team
started the season with
a record of 11-2 but
had a few losses this
past week. What are
the team’s goals for the
rest of the season?
We want to just keep on
Photo submitted
playing competitive baseball.
We want to keep on doing
the little things right and
have that propel us into the
postseason.
Are you planning on
pitching in college?
Yes. I’ve already signed
with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
It’s one of
the schools that had my major
— Industrial Technology.
With the help of Rhino Baseball,
they took a look at me.
I went on a visit there and
loved it. I signed last fall.
What is the best thing
about being an athlete
at Lockport?
It’s that Lockport has
some of the most amazing
facilities. Our baseball
field, Flink Field, is one of
my favorite places. Plus, our
weight room is fantastic, and
I love the things that coach
[Joe] Cunnane has done with
the weight room.
Interview by Freelance Reporter
Randy Whalen