VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Cox High School pitcher Jake Colucci doesn’t flinch under pressure.
“I closed out all of our regional games and our state games," said Colucci. "I remember my catcher running up to me and he hugged me after I delivered that pitch.”
It wasn't any ordinary pitch, but one that secured the Falcons a state championship last season over Independence. It was the Falcons' second state title in the past three years.
"It was just awesome knowing that me delivering that final pitch was another factor in helping this whole organization secure that state championship. I think that’s just how I was raised to not have any nerves.”
After all, Colucci was raised in a competitive household. He’s already created pressure on himself to keep up with his older brother, Ben.
“I kind of always made it my number one goal to be better than my brother. I always wanted to chase all of his career stats."
And as for the decision to play college baseball: “Yes, just another step of me chasing my brother."
Ben is five years older than Jake and was a pitcher for Stony Brook. Jake will be starting his collegiate career next season at UNC Greensboro.
“He taught me everything I know about pitching. I’ve never really had a real pitching coach other than him. I definitely grew a lot closer to him. He always asks me to send him videos now and he always asks how I did.”
Having some extra guidance from his big brother was also important when Jake first arrived at Cox. His family moved to the area the summer before his freshman year.
"I moved here a couple days before school started and I set up a meeting with Coach Ittner and I was at practice the next day and became buddies with everyone on the team. The team was so family-oriented and I was immediately welcomed into the brotherhood."
And although they're buddies sharing the dugout now, Jake says he'll be sharing a different stage with them in the future.
"Another player in our preseason said that all of us are going to be at his wedding and I feel the same way."
It's those relationships off the field that fuel Jake as well as special moments on it.
“When I step up to that rubber every game it's just about what I can do to impact my team. Being out there on that mound when I hear that pin-drop silence, you know something cool is about to happen.”
