黑料福利社

YAKIMA, Wash. - Because Jace Van De Brake is an exceptional athlete - the 6-foot-1 West Valley senior was able to dunk a basketball prior to his freshman year - he has done plenty of exceptional things during his days as a Ram.

But because he is first and foremost a baseball player, he'd prefer to keep what he hopes to be his ultimate high school accomplishment somewhat quiet, at least for the time being.

"Baseball players are known for being superstitious," Van De Brake explained during a recent interview. "So those of us on the team don't even talk about it. If it should come up sometime in a conversation, I guess we'll discuss it. But for now, we kind of just don't."

Already, you see, Van De Brake is having the time of his life.

He is the starting shortstop and leadoff hitter for an experienced and talented West Valley team that will see its core group of athletes play one last season together before going separate ways.

For Van De Brake's part, his immediate future is at Gonzaga University where a baseball scholarship awaits.

"All of us seniors have grown up playing together since second grade," he said. "I have never been on a team that hasn't had these guys on it, through Little League, all-stars, high school and (American) Legion ball.

"There's nothing better you can do than play baseball with your friends."

Especially when you play it as well as Van De Brake does.

Last season he was voted MVP of the CWAC as a junior, having played an exemplary level of shortstop and having led his team in runs batted in despite hitting first in the order.

But as with all truly special baseball players, there is more to Van De Brake's game than can be found in numbers.

"The thing that makes him really good at baseball, aside from being as athletic as they come," coach Ryan Froula said, "is that he has great baseball savvy. In the situational aspects of the game, whether it's hitting, playing defense or baserunning, he's a step ahead of everybody else."

Some of his knowledge was no doubt either inherited from or taught by his father, Kevin Van De Brake, who prior to becoming a coach and current athletic director at West Valley was a standout football-basketball-baseball athlete at Selah. The elder Van De Brake, after his 1986 graduation, went on to play at Taft College and Loyola Marymount, then spent two years in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.

And Kevin's father, Jerry Van De Brake, was the starting shortstop on the 1963 Selah-Naches American Legion team, coached by Bill Carlon, that won the state title.

So baseball has been in the family for generations, obviously, and some of Jace's fondest memories include what some would consider a more casual, less competitive form of the game that can be no less enjoyable.

"Wiffle ball games in the backyard," he said, smiling at the thought of activities that would include younger brothers Justin, currently a WV freshman and junior varsity shortstop, and sixth-grader Jackson. "Those so much fun. A lot of times we'd put duct tape over the ball and cover up the holes so it would go farther when we'd hit it. We've even gotten my mom (Brandi) out there sometimes."

Beyond the playful part of Van De Brake's personality, however, lies a more serious side that has combined with his athleticism to produce a special player.

"Another thing about Jace," said Froula, "is he is extremely competitive. He wants to win. And that raises the competitive level of everybody else on the team."

The desire to win and love of the game already have taken Van De Brake to an elite level of high school play and have earned him a chance to play in college. Does he plan to take his career beyond Gonzaga?

"That would be my dream," he said. "I want to play baseball as long as I can. I want to give it my best shot every single day, and then no matter what, I'll be satisfied."

But back to this season with this team, and what Van De Brake and his teammates are fervently but quietly striving to achieve: A class 2A state championship.

"That," he said, nodding affirmatively, "would be huge. I've never won a state championship, and like I said before it's not something we talk about.

"But also, I'd have to say it's a goal that's realistic."