Underwood Returns for 2009 Season
The 2008 MVP is excited about the new additions
The 2008 MVP is excited about the new additions
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New Buffalo, MI 1/18/09
The man who set the single season home run record and earned the
overall Most Valuable Player award in 2008 will be back in a SK
uniform in 2009.
On Sunday, Jake Underwood announced that he plans to return to the
Street Kids/Suburban South softball team for his third season, but just
his second full year, and is looking forward to playing with some of
the new guys.
"I don't think we accomplished what we set out to do in 2008,"
Underwood said on Sunday, echoing his comments from the post
season awards banquet. "We had a good year but with a few changes
I think we can really compete for something more. We have some
good new additions, including players that give us some flexibility like
Kalei (Enterline) and Jay (Jeffery). Adding a big man at first base in
Mark (Hershberger) with the experience of winning a national title,
along with his ability to back up Lanny Fisher on the mound was also
key. And then you add the offensive presence of Joe Horvath to what
is already a solid lineup and you can easily see how exciting 2009 is
going to be."
Underwood was one of the last few players from the 2008 roster that had not committed to returning to
the team. As most highly gifted players go, he was pursued by many other teams.
"There were a lot of offers and I considered everything before making this decision," Underwood added. "I
considered everything, and in the end I just felt like I owed it to my teammates to give it another try at
winning something more. We had only one year under our belt to gel together and sometimes they say you
need a year of playing together before you really see how dangerous a team can be."
A man who was raised in the sport of softball by his father, SKS player Carl Underwood, the talented
outfielder brings a lot of intensity to the park every day. For only playing for about five years, Underwood
plays like a veteran.
"There are very few guys out there in their middle twenties that knows the game like Jake," said manager
TJ Jorgensen. "That comes from growing up in a softball household. I remember several times last year
watching Carl and Jake talking about different scenarios and when to hit the ball here or there. Jake is a
student of this game, and is always looking to get better. I don't think there is a player out there that
practices as much as Jake, even during the middle of the season."
After the 2008 season ended, every critic said most of the players from the SK team would be playing
with other teams in 2009, including Underwood, Lanny Fisher, Chris Firebaugh and Jamie Everett. As of
today, all have agreed to return in 2009.
"I never pay attention to gossip," Jorgensen stated. "All I said to people is I will do my part to bring the
guys back that we want and hopefully build a better team in 2009. I feel we have accomplished that."
The Street Kids/Suburban South team will make their 2009 debut in Jackson, Michigan on January 31st,
playing inside the Jackson Dome. Last season, the Kids won both tourneys they played in Jackson.
The man who set the single season home run record and earned the
overall Most Valuable Player award in 2008 will be back in a SK
uniform in 2009.
On Sunday, Jake Underwood announced that he plans to return to the
Street Kids/Suburban South softball team for his third season, but just
his second full year, and is looking forward to playing with some of
the new guys.
"I don't think we accomplished what we set out to do in 2008,"
Underwood said on Sunday, echoing his comments from the post
season awards banquet. "We had a good year but with a few changes
I think we can really compete for something more. We have some
good new additions, including players that give us some flexibility like
Kalei (Enterline) and Jay (Jeffery). Adding a big man at first base in
Mark (Hershberger) with the experience of winning a national title,
along with his ability to back up Lanny Fisher on the mound was also
key. And then you add the offensive presence of Joe Horvath to what
is already a solid lineup and you can easily see how exciting 2009 is
going to be."
Underwood was one of the last few players from the 2008 roster that had not committed to returning to
the team. As most highly gifted players go, he was pursued by many other teams.
"There were a lot of offers and I considered everything before making this decision," Underwood added. "I
considered everything, and in the end I just felt like I owed it to my teammates to give it another try at
winning something more. We had only one year under our belt to gel together and sometimes they say you
need a year of playing together before you really see how dangerous a team can be."
A man who was raised in the sport of softball by his father, SKS player Carl Underwood, the talented
outfielder brings a lot of intensity to the park every day. For only playing for about five years, Underwood
plays like a veteran.
"There are very few guys out there in their middle twenties that knows the game like Jake," said manager
TJ Jorgensen. "That comes from growing up in a softball household. I remember several times last year
watching Carl and Jake talking about different scenarios and when to hit the ball here or there. Jake is a
student of this game, and is always looking to get better. I don't think there is a player out there that
practices as much as Jake, even during the middle of the season."
After the 2008 season ended, every critic said most of the players from the SK team would be playing
with other teams in 2009, including Underwood, Lanny Fisher, Chris Firebaugh and Jamie Everett. As of
today, all have agreed to return in 2009.
"I never pay attention to gossip," Jorgensen stated. "All I said to people is I will do my part to bring the
guys back that we want and hopefully build a better team in 2009. I feel we have accomplished that."
The Street Kids/Suburban South team will make their 2009 debut in Jackson, Michigan on January 31st,
playing inside the Jackson Dome. Last season, the Kids won both tourneys they played in Jackson.
| Underwood set the single season SK home run record with 123 in 2008. |
