Uncertainty For Armsey Ends At USC-Upstate
July 25, 2020
Follow on Twitter- @PrepBaseballOH
Follow on Instagram- @pbrohio
Interested in attending a PBR Ohio event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.
Uncertainty For Armsey Ends At USC-Upstate
To view the commitment tracker, click here.
To view the uncommitted spotlights, click here.
Jake Armsey
Class of 2021 / SS
Rankings
StateRank: 52 / POS: 12
Player Information
-
Graduating Class: 2021
-
Primary Position: SSSecondary Position: RHP
-
High School: Walsh JesuitState: OH
- Summer Team: Release Baseball 17u
-
Height: 5-11Weight: 180lbs
- Bat/Throw: R/R
Statistics
Pitching
85
Max FB
(07/23/20)
83 - 85
FB
(07/23/20)
73 - 75
CB
(07/23/20)
72 - 75
CH
(07/11/19)
Position
7.21
60-yard
(06/03/19)
80
INF Velo
(02/17/19)
88
Exit Velo
(02/17/19)
4.71
H-1st
(07/24/18)
Videos
(7/30/19)
(6/4/19)
Player News
- 2021 OHSAA Tournament Wrap-up - Jun 15, 2021
- Uncertainty For Armsey Ends At USC-Upstate - Jul 25, 2020
- End Of Baseball At BG Brings Shock, Agony To So Many - May 19, 2020
- Armsey Finds 'Perfect Fit' Close To Home In Bowling Green - Nov 22, 2019
- Team Ohio: Future Games 'A Can't Miss Event' - Aug 15, 2019
- 2019 Future Games Preview - Team Ohio - Jul 28, 2019
- 2019 Northern Ohio Limited Series - Pitching Velocities - Jul 19, 2019
- Scouting Notes: 2019 Northern Ohio Limited Series Scout Blog - Jul 19, 2019
- 2019 Ohio Top Prospect Games - Complete Evaluations - Jun 27, 2019
- Results from 2019 Top Prospect Games - Jun 6, 2019
- Ohio Weekly Scout Blog - May 6-12 - May 12, 2019
- Ohio Weekly Scout Blog - April 1-7 - Apr 7, 2019
- 2019 Scout Day: Release - Complete Evaluations - Mar 20, 2019
- 2019 Scout Day: Release - Top Performers - Feb 21, 2019
- 2019 Scout Day: Release - Sneak Peek - Feb 21, 2019
- Results from 2019 Scout Day: Release - Feb 19, 2019
- Walsh Jesuit Warriors - Jan 30, 2019
- Top Prospect Games - Class of 2020 and 2021: Complete Evaluations - Aug 15, 2018
- 2018 Top Prospect Games at WSU: Class of 2020/2021 - Sneak Peek At The Arms - Aug 1, 2018
- Top Prospect Games at Wright State University: Class of 2020 and 2021 - Preview - Jul 21, 2018
- 2018 Ohio Top Prospect Games - Complete Evaluations - Jul 8, 2018
- Results from Ohio's 2018 Top Prospect Games - Jun 7, 2018
- Scout Day: Release Baseball - Complete Evaluations - Mar 12, 2018
- 2018 Scout Day: Release Baseball - Top Performers - Feb 16, 2018
- 2018 Scout Day: Release Baseball - Sneak Peek - Feb 16, 2018
- Results from Ohio's 2018 Scout Day: Release Baseball - Feb 12, 2018
- 2018 Freshman Free Showcase - Top Performers - Jan 24, 2018
- 2018 Freshman Free Showcase - Sneak Peek - Jan 24, 2018
- Results from Ohio's 2018 Freshman Free Showcase - Jan 22, 2018
- The Ohio Future 50 - Class of 2021 & 2022: Complete Evaluations - Jul 30, 2017
Uncertainty For Armsey Ends At USC-Upstate
AKRON - Jake Armsey thought his college future was decided. But when Bowling Green eliminated its baseball program in early May, the Walsh Jesuit 2021 had a decision to make.
“After BG shut down I reached out to a lot of programs and USC-Upstate was one of them,” Armsey related. “I had talked way before to USC. After the Future Games they were one of the teams that reached out.
“I sent them a lot of videos and my mom and I went down and checked out the campus. We loved it. It all started at the Future Games.”
Admittedly, when Bowling Green reinstated the baseball program it brought uncertainty for the 11th-rated shortstop in Ohio’s 2021 class.
“Bowling Green was still an option,” explained Armsey, who is believed to be the only player in his recruiting class at the Mid-American Conference school to not return. “My parents didn’t feel comfortable. The uncertainty could happen again … it could happen anywhere. We just felt we needed to look at other options. They gave me a timeline and I didn’t take it.”
Other schools entered the picture, including an offer from Youngstown State.
“I reached out to southern schools, Radford and High Point,” Armsey noted. “There was also Penn State and I talked to Eastern Michigan a little bit. I tried to reach out to schools I thought might be interested.”
But USC-Upstate, a member of the Big South Conference, proved to be to the liking of the 39th-ranked incoming senior in Ohio.
“I mainly talked to coach (Adam) Brown, he was really nice,” Armsey said about the recruiting coordinator and associate head coach who just completed his first year at USC-Upstate. “When it came down to the commitment, he got me a hold of the head coach (Mike McGuire, the first-year mentor who led the Spartans to a 13-5 record, the first winning season since 2012). They were really accommodating to the situation.”
Admittedly, distance to the school located in Spartanburg, S.C.brought some apprehension.
“My mom’s main concern was it was so far from home,” Armsey said about the eight-plus hour travel time from Akron to USC-Upstate. “But she wants to watch me play in the south, so they’re all okay with it. I’m sure it will be a struggle at first, but after a while we’ll adapt. It’s a good fit and something we want to do.”
What Armsey did not want to be part of was a second recruiting process.
“This time was more stressful,” Armsey explained. “Videos can only do and show so much. Fortunately, last year was one of the best seasons I had and I got video out as much as I could. But with rosters expanding and rule changes, it was all really stressful. The first time was stressful enough. I’m just glad this worked out the way it did. Having an opportunity is what I’m most grateful for no matter the drive.”
Telling the decision to Bowling Green added to the difficulty the 5-11 180-pound shortstop endured.
“That was the toughest thing I’ve ever had to do,” Armsey said of letting Bowling Green know he was not returning. “I loved it there. I drew a bond with coach (Kyle) Hallock (the new head coach at BG) and to tell him I was not coming back was hard. I struggled to get the words out. He told me if it doesn’t work out, reach out to him, but he understood.”
There was also the matter of telling a future teammate.
“I’m good friends with Peyton Wilson and I talked to him about it a lot,” Armsey said in reference to the 2020 New London graduate. “Once I told him I wasn’t going back he understood and wished me the best.”
Now Armsey looks forward to a future playing baseball in the south.
“Versatility is the biggest thing I think I can bring,” Armsey related. “This summer I’ve played every infield position. In college I can play infield or outfield at any time, whatever helps us win. I’ve got the will to win and will do whatever it takes. I don’t like to lose.”
USC-Upstate sees a lot to like in Armsey.
“The Future Games is the only time they’ve seen me live, but versatility is the main thing,” said Armsey, a 3.5 student looking at a major in sport management and minor in business. “They like my hit tool as well. I’m the leadoff hitter for my summer team and bat three-hole for high school. They also like that I’m a winner. Going to Walsh and playing in the summer with Release, we’re always winning. They like that about me.”