Jake Tougas finished off this fourth season of OUA baseball in Laurier achieving both his first win and his first save all within an weeks time back in late September of 2015.
This season the North Bay pitcher will go into season five as a team captain as he hopes his role with the pitching staff increases.
“I ended up kind of closing and long relief my fourth year and going into my fifth year becoming captain and hopefully starting a lot more games for Laurier,” stated Tougas who keeps his arm fresh pitching in the North Bay Men’s Senior Baseball League.
Tougas is working on a degree in Kinesiology at the Kitchener-Waterloo area university.
The former North Bay Stinger star says it’s been an interesting baseball journey.
“I didn’t really know what I was getting into because the baseball level is a little different from the North to the South,” admitted Tougas.
“Obviously with the Stingers teams it was nice to play down South for a few tournaments throughout my younger ages again you don’t know what you are getting into but honestly it’s been a great ride through the four years so far, just learning from the coaches down there has been great for me, going through my pitching coach, he taught me a lot.”
Tougas describes himself as a contact pitcher.
“I’m not really an overpowering type guy, more a hit my spots, accuracy first, velocity second type guy,” said Tougas.
“I throw a cutter, a curve ball and a change up so it’s kind of just making sure I hit my spots and mostly ground ball pitching is what my main focus is.”
Tougas saw his team fall in the OUA Championship tournament as the Golden Hawks dropped games to Brock and Western which ended their season with some disappointment.
However, with three starters leaving for graduation, Tougas knows there is some opportunity for him; something he hasn’t had before.
“Hopefully for me being able to step in and help out the starting staff should lead me into fitting into a bigger role now,” he said.
While pro baseball doesn’t appear to be in the cards for Tougas, he definitely hopes to end his OUA baseball career on top.
“Hopefully get into the playoffs with the team, looking to do some damage in the playoffs and hopefully take home another championship for Laurier.”
