BELLINGHAM - Ever since it opened its doors as Extra Innings in 2006, the Inside Pitch Baseball and Softball Training Facility in Bellingham has done its best to develop young players - in spite of the rainy conditions in Northwest Washington - to move on to the next level.
The Inside Pitch instructors have certainly made an impact the past couple of years, as a number of Whatcom County players have moved on to play baseball at small colleges and junior colleges throughout the region. But until Wednesday, Nov. 9, the facility was not able to boast having developed a Division I player.
That changed on Wednesday, when Ferndale High School senior Jake Schroeder signed his national letter of intent to pitch for Washington State University. Schroeder signed on the first day of the early signing period, which lasts until mid-November.
"They (Inside Pitch) had a lot to do with me getting to this point," said Schroeder before a signing ceremony at Inside Pitch. "I've been coming here since I was in seventh grade. All of my basic mechanics, I learned from Brandon (Hundt, an instructor at Inside Pitch)."
Though the right-hander officially signed and faxed his letter into Pullman earlier in the day, Schroeder and his entire family were decked out in Cougars gear to celebrate his accomplishment during the afternoon signing ceremony at Inside Pitch.
"This means a lot to all of us," Hundt said. "This is exactly what we're here for - giving kids a shot to play at schools like Washington State. It's been cool to watch Jake come up and develop here, and now he gets the chance to go on and play at Washington State. That's where I went to school and played, so it's really exciting for me."
Schroeder said he chose WSU over Washington, Oregon and Oregon State after making his official visit to Pullman on Oct. 19.
"I really liked the location," Schroeder said. "The coaches were great, I like the atmosphere there and it's a good program to play for. I really liked everything about it."
The Cougars, obviously, liked what they saw in Schroeder, too.
At 6-foot-7, 200 pounds, he has a big, imposing presence on the mound. Add to it a fastball that Hundt said is already clocked in the low 90s, and he's got the ability to be downright dominating.
"He's kind of like Randy Johnson out there," Hundt said. "Of course he's not a left hander, but he's got that real loose delivery. He's got that high three-quarter arm slot. And he's got a very quick delivery."
Schroeder went 3-3 with a 2.36 ERA, striking out 37 in 32 2/3 innings of work last year for Ferndale. He also was a force at the plate, hitting .364 with two homers and 24 RBI.
But Schroeder said the Cougars see him strictly as a starter, and they'd like to work him into the rotation as soon as possible.
"He's got a great frame for a pitcher," Ferndale coach Sean Linville said in a phone interview. "He's long and lanky and he's got a really quick arm. He's worked really hard to make himself stronger, and he's a guy that continues to get better and better and better. He's now got an assortment of pitches, but what really makes him stand out are the things you can't teach him - that tall frame and his quick arm."
Washington State wasn't the only one to notice that skill set.
Hundt said Schroeder has had contact with a number of major league scouts, who have indicated he might get selected in the first 10 rounds of next summer's Major League Baseball draft.
That, obviously, could make for an interesting decision for Schroeder, who has not yet decided on a major.
"Getting an education is really important to me," he said. "It would be something to be drafted, though. If the money is right ..."
For now, though, Schroeder is happy to focus on getting ready for his senior season of basketball, before the baseball season starts in the spring.
"I'm just glad to have this done so that I can focus on having fun as a senior," he said.
Reach David Rasbach at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or 360-715-2271.
