Playing At Coastal Carolina Exciting To Bakus

MIDLAND - “They really have it all.”

That is how Jack Bakus viewed a visit to Coastal Carolina.

“It was an amazing atmosphere,” the H.H. Dow senior said. “It’s a beautiful campus, I really like that, and they have beautiful facilities. It’s just a beautiful baseball field and stadium.”

Soon after the trip to the Sun Belt East Conference university, Bakus committed.

“I had a really successful summer playing travel ball and one of my coaches came in contact with (head) coach (Gary) Gilmore,” Bakus reflected. “I sent a video of me hitting and he liked what he saw and said to come to a camp so he could see me play in person. I went and had a good camp and he called and offered a couple of days later. I’m really excited to end this and know where I’m going.”

It capped off a busy summer during an active recruiting process for the second-ranked 2023 first baseman in Michigan, who played for the MCBC Hit Dogs as well as the Midland Berryhill Legion which made it to the semifinals of the American Legion World Series.

“Things definitely picked up during summer ball with my coaches advocating for me,” Bakus related. “I went to Nashville and played at Middle Tennessee, that’s where it all started. Middle Tennessee liked what they saw and I had a call with the Western Michigan coach and he came and watched me play with Midland up at Northwood.”

But it was Coastal Carolina that gave the most attention to Bakus.

“Coastal was the first school to really be interested in me,” the 6-5 210-pound left-handed hitter said. “They worked fast, that’s one thing that stood out to me. They really cared. It was a two-way thing.

“Initially it was the videos of me hitting, they like my bat,” Bakus continued about what brought intrigue to Coastal Carolina. “I ran a 6.8 60 at camp so they also saw my speed. Then I took reps in the field to show I’m a well-rounded player.”

That became evident to the Coastal coaching staff.

“I played first and third at camp, but when coach Gilmore called he said he saw me playing in the outfield for them with my size and speed,” Bakus said.

The desire to play the sport of baseball beyond high school has been long-going for Bakus.

“I always knew I wanted to play baseball in college,” the 40th-ranked senior in the state explained. “Growing up I played baseball, basketball and football but I knew baseball was my favorite and I wanted to take that to the next level.”

The recruiting process included participating in events such as the Michigan Procase and the Future Games.

“I tried to do everything I could to get seen,” Bakus noted. “I reached out to a lot of schools, I went to school camps and I went to showcase camps. I did anything I could to get myself out there in any way I could.”

Bakus, who will turn 18 on Sept. 18, is confident about making a splash with Coastal Carolina.

“I think I can bring a lot to the program,” Bakus related. “The first thing people see is my bat, and I absolutely can bring that, but I’m just a well-rounded player and that’s really valuable on a college team. I’ve got a good attitude, I grind, I persevere and I never quit on you.”

A business-related field such as finance is being considered as a major by Bakus, who carries a 4.47 weighted GPA at H.H. Dow.

“Right when I came in contact with Coastal it was in my mind that this was a possibility,” Bakus said of committing to the university located in Conway, S.C., 12 hours from his home in Midland. “Once that connection happened it was definitely my first choice to get down south where I can play year-round baseball. You can’t get that up north, that was a big factor in my decision.”

With one year of high school remaining, Bakus is anxious for the time when his college days on the ball diamond officially get started.

 “I’m definitely looking forward to being able to compete with some of the best players in the country while playing alongside some of the best on such a good team with such good coaches,” Bakus concluded. “I’m thrilled to be going there and having that opportunity.”