Left-handed pitcher Jackson Soucie and the Wabash Valley Warriors' hopes of winning a national championship this past season were wiped away in half an inning.
In the top of the first of the National Junior College Athletic Association championship game, the Central Florida Patriots plated nine runs.
Despite the Warriors outscoring their opponent 6-4 the rest of the way and Soucie striking out eight over 4.2 innings of relief, it wasn't enough as they dropped the game and the title.
Watching his opposition celebrate just didn’t sit right with Soucie and it's an image that's stuck with him all summer.
So after committing to the University of Oregon last month, Soucie announced that he would forego that commitment and return to Wabash Valley for one more season.
“I want to bring a national championship back to Wabash Valley and be part of something historic for the school,” Soucie said.
“They haven’t won a national championship in baseball yet and with our loss in the final game last year I just felt like my work there wasn’t done. I kept thinking about how I needed to go back and win.”
Aside from winning, his return to Mount Carmel, Ill. provides another opportunity for the young southpaw. If he can pitch well and impress scouts, he’ll have a chance to have his named called in the 2024 MLB Draft.
Junior college players are eligible for the draft after each season. If Soucie were to go to Oregon, a four-year Division I program, he would have to wait until after his junior season to be drafted.
“This really opens up the opportunity for me and my career,” Soucie said.
“My goal for this year is to be a front of the rotation starter. I want to be the guy they give the ball to in big situations.”
Soucie says great coaches and team chemistry also helped make the the decision to return easier.
“I’ve never been so close with a team before and it changes everything,” he said.
“I know how much the school and the baseball program means to the community.”