(Story taken from the Centre College website)
DANVILLE, Ky. - Following a successful collegiate
career, 2009 Centre College graduate Jake Jones (Griffin, Ga.) has
signed a professional contract to become a member of the Evansville
Otters, an independent baseball team in the Frontier League.
Jones, a three-time All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference
(SCAC) selection at Centre, signed as a pitcher for the Otters, who
play their home games at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind.
During his time at Centre, Jones earned all-conference honors at three different positions, including as a third baseman in 2007, a designated hitter in 2008, and in 2009, he was a first team selection as a pitcher.
In four years, Jones compiled a 4.67 earned run average (ERA), including an ERA under four (3.97 in 2008, and 3.88 in 2009) in both his junior and senior seasons. He won nine games in 34 career appearances with six complete games and one shutout.
In addition to his success on the mound, Jones also served as a full-time player in the Colonels lineup, hitting .326 for his career with 13 home runs and 123 runs batted in.
Jones, who is originally from Georgia, but now resides in Springfield, Ky., was not only selected to the SCAC First Team as a pitcher in 2009, but he also was named the team's Most Valuable Pitcher and earned SCAC All-Tournament Team accolades after throwing a complete game and defeating then No. 2, and the top seed from the West, Millsaps College. In that game, Jones allowed only seven hits and two runs, while striking out six in a 4-2 victory.
Since 1996, the Otters have had 43 players signed by Major League Baseball organizations, including 14 since 2005. Included on that list is George Sherrill, a left-handed pitcher who signed with the Seattle Mariners in 2003. He is currently one of the top relief pitchers for the Los Angeles Dodgers, which finished the 2009 regular season with the best record in the National League.