A true super soph
ADAMS TWP — Entering his sophomore baseball season at Mars, Jake’s Johnson’s goals were modest.
“All I wanted to do was get a couple of at bats, play in a couple of games,” Johnson said.
He wound up doing much more than that.
The MVP of the Planets’ freshman team in 2020, Johnson hit in the high .400’s that year. But varsity baseball can be a different story.
“The pitching is faster and the game is quicker,” Mars varsity baseball coach Jason Thompson said. “You’re never sure how a young player is going to adjust to that.”
Johnson adjusted just fine, thank you. He started at second base for Mars and wound up leading the team with 24 hits and 21 runs scored. He hit .407 overall, a whopping .462 in conference play.
Despite losing a number of seniors from the previous year, the Planets finished 14-6 in 2022 and reached the WPIAL playoffs.
“Jake played shortstop for the freshman team and we had openings at shortstop and second base due to graduation losses,” Thompson said. “I wasn’t sure which position he would wind up at, but we decided to play (senior) John Fratto at short and we moved Jake to second base.
“It all worked out. Nothing got past Jake over at second. He was outstanding.”
Johnson was named first team all-section. He hit No. 2 in Mars lineup all season, striking out only seven times in 71 at bats. He drew 11 walks.
“I’m definitely a contact hitter,” he said. “Put the ball in play. That’s all I want to do. Find a way to get on base and help the team win. I beat out infield hits, whatever it takes.”
Thompson was particularly impressed with Johnson’s two-strike approach at the plate.
“His at-bats are always gritty, but especially with two strikes,” the coach said. “I can think of a number of times where Jake would have two strikes on him and foul off four, five or six pitches before putting the ball in play, often times for a hit.
“It usually takes time for a younger player to adjust to varsity ball. Not Jake. He stepped into the lineup and took off right away. I never had to move him from that No. 2 spot in the order ... just an excellent fundamental player. He stole nine bases for us, too. He’s a smart baserunner.”
“Nothing special there,” Johnson said of his baserunning. “I just pay attention out there.”
Johnson has been playing baseball since age 3. He hopes to play in college down the road.
“Yeah, that’s a goal of mine,” he said. “I’m not sure yet where or at what level. I just want to get a chance to play.”
“Jake has what it takes to get there,” Thompson said of college. “He works as hard in the classroom and in the weight room as he does on the field.”
Johnson plays second base for Hard Core, a summer team based in Pittsburgh. He’s hopeful of returning to shortstop for the Planets next spring.
“That’s my favorite position,” he said of shortstop. “I have to work on my arm strength a little bit.”
Mars graduated seven seniors from this year’s team, most of them starters. Though he’ll only be a junior, Johnson figures he’ll have to be somewhat of a leader next spring.
“I feel like I’m going to have to do more for my team, leadership-wise and on the field,” he said. “I’m fine with that.”
