HIGH SCHOOL-OHIO

Goshen junior pitcher ‘ace of the staff’ for Warriors

Mark D. Motz

GOSHEN – When he gets quiet, that’s when it’s time to watch out.

Goshen High School junior pitcher Jesse Peters said he doesn’t have much of a routine before he takes the mound, no real superstitions to observe. However, he doesn’t say much.

“I don’t talk to too many people days I pitch,” he said. “I just want to be alone and get ready. I try to keep the focus off me and just go out and do my job.”

Whatever he does, it works.

“He’s the ace of the staff,” Goshen head coach Mark Reed said. “He just throws the ball extremely well. He’s very consistent. He’s definitely a Division I college prospect. The fact that he’s 6-foot-3, good size and a lefty, colleges are going to look at that automatically.

“His fastball is in the mid 80s, but he’s got a great changeup to offset that and keep the batters off base.”

Peters also plays first base for the Warriors and carries a .326 batting average, but he prefers to be on the mound whenever he can.

“I love the atmosphere,” he said. “It’s just fun. You get to control the game, the pace, how things go out there. I like that challenge.”

Star players have signature moments. Reed said Peters’ came earlier this season when he struck out 15 of 21 batters during a 1-0 complete game win over New Richmond, handing the Lions - who clinched the Southern Buckeye Conference title first week - one of only four losses they’ve had all season.

“He was just dominant,” Reed said. “We kind of put a lot on his shoulders, but he does the job. He is the most shy and quiet kid you want to meet. He’s not a vocal kid. He knows he’s the best, but he lets his play speak for itself.”

Must be something about the Lions. Peters said one of his favorite baseball memories was beating New Richmond last season in the Cincinnati Reds Showcase game and winning the MVP award for his effort. The Reds presented him with a bat on the field at Great American Ball Park.

Off the field, Peters said math and science are his favorite subjects in school - “I’m not much of a writer,” he said, and he would like to study sports business when he gets to college.

For now, he’s concentrating on finishing the season strong and making a solid run in the tournament before rejoining his summer team, the Midwest Prospects.”

Fifth-seeded Goshen was scheduled to face No. 9 Talawanda at home May 13 in the opening round of the Division II sectional tournament. The winner advances to face Batavia May 15. The sectional title game is scheduled for May 22 with top-seeded New Richmond lurking as a possible foe.

“With Jesse and (sophomore pitcher) Isaac Hart, we’ve got a good 1-2 in the rotation,” Reed said. “We’ve got some sold defense and some good bats. Jesse and Isaac are still young and will keep getting better. Our sectional is really tough, but the future is bright.”