Commitment To Maine Emotional For Boudreau

Jake Boudreau RHP / Bishop Guertin, NH / 2024

HOLLIS, N.H. - Jake Boudreau had a plan when it came to picking a college.

“I wanted to go to a place that my freshman year there I could develop and not be just one of the guys,” the Bishop Guertin High School senior related.

The third-ranked 2024 in New Hampshire believes has found what he was looking for at the University of Maine.

“It felt like home,” Boudreau said of the visit he took in July of 2022. “I had a connection with the school and the coaches. It was a good human conversation with coach (Nick) Derba. He believes in people and is the type of guy I really want to play for.”

Five months prior to talking to the head coach of Maine, Boudreau was throwing 85-87 at a PBR Scout Day.

“I had good spin rates, good offspeed and a good change-up,” Boudreau reflected. “After that I had a good spring and come summer I was locked in. I was performing well but didn’t think coaches were showing up. But after one game I got a call from coach Derba who wanted to speak. He liked the way I pitched, there’s a design to it. He offered me right there.”

The decision, however, did not come for some time.

“I took awhile to commit,” Boudreau explained. “I believe in myself and wasn’t sure what to do. I knew Maine was right for me but I sat on it and this summer committed.” 

It ended a long recruiting process for the top-rated senior right-handed pitcher in New Hampshire.

“It all started thanks to coach Gilbride,” Boudreau said in reference to his high school head coach Kevin Gilbride. “My freshman year he had coaches around that watched me. I was throwing 80-82 and getting decent exposure. Sophomore year I went to the PBR Expo Scout Day and that really helped expose my skills. I was invited to the Future Games for Team Massachusetts after that.

“That was a memorable event for me. I went there and was pretty nervous. I hadn’t played on that big of a stage and was unsure what would happen. It ended up being a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a main event that helps you go to college.”

Another Scout Day took place in February with Boudreau also playing in PBR tournaments “which increased my exposure.”

A lot of improvement came while getting more and more interest from the likes of Wake Forest and LSU along with visits to Stonehill and Quinnipiac.

“I was in the weight room trying to better myself day by day,” the 6-4 210-pounder noted. “That was the motivation.”

Maine saw a lot to like in the 13th-ranked 2024 RHP in New England.

“They were impressed with my ability to pitch and not just throw,” Boudreau explained. “They like that I had a design and not just throwing hard. They like my build, they said I could be a pro one day with a lot of development. They also liked the way my brain worked. I'm not tense, I'm very relaxed.”

The 17-year-old credited his older brother Sam with playing a major role in his baseball journey.

“College baseball has always been a goal of mine,” Boudreau reflected. “My oldest brother committed to Eckert in 2019 and he’s been my main motivation. I used to be a catcher and we always trained together. My dream of college baseball always revolved around my brother, who’s a catcher, but once my body developed I realized I could pitch.”

There is more that Boudreau believes he can bring to Maine than just a good pitcher.

“I see myself as a leader,” Boudreau said. “I’m captain of my high school team both my junior and senior years and I bring a strong mental attitude to the team. I also have the ability to pitch. I'm very very good under stress. I hate losing. Winning is one of my favorite things to do.”

That is something the 44th-rated senior in New England sees in his future at the American East Conference school located a little less than four hours from home.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the guys and being a part of a new family,” related Boudreau, who carries a 3.5 GPA and plans to major in accounting at Maine. “I want to be part of the tradition and win the American East every year. I also want to win a national championship.”

That would bring excitement almost as much as the day a commitment was made.

“It was unimaginable to be honest,” concluded Boudreau. “When I accepted the offer I had a moment with my father and gave him a hug. It was emotional. It was a surreal moment to have this privilege and honor.”