Telegraph Staff Writer
Union County High School seniors Luke Johns and Jake O’Steen have made big plays on the baseball diamond over the years, but the biggest for both occurred at the Lake Butler Community Center on Nov. 18, when they signed letters of intent to play college ball.
“Playing at the college level is definitely an accomplishment,” said O’Steen, a second baseman who accepted an offer from Palatka’s St. Johns River State College. He added, “Knowing that I had the skills to go to the next level is definitely a dream come true. Everybody wants to play in college.”
Johns, a pitcher who signed with Florida State College at Jacksonville, said, “Obviously, not a lot of people get this opportunity to go to the next level. It’s just a blessing from God to be able to do what I do.”
Putting in the work
Legendary Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda once said, “There are three types of baseball players — those that make it happen, those who watch it happen and those who wonder what happened.”
Union Head Coach Travis Rimes shared that quote during the ceremony, saying that Johns and O’Steen fall into the first category. Rimes said the two players have a love for the game that has them wanting to be at the UCHS baseball facilities all day and all night. They’re fueled by a drive to always get better.
“They work hard. They put in the extra effort,” Rimes said, adding, “Both of them put in the extra work. That’s why they’re where they are today.”
Both players knew that’s what it would take in order to keep playing the sport they love after high school.
“If you want to do something, you’ve always got to work hard at it,” O’Steen said. “If you work hard at it, you’re going to accomplish something.”
Johns admitted there was a point in his life when he realized he was going to have to step it up in that regard.
“I want to say I wasted a couple of years — years that I can’t get back,” he said. “It really hit me hard last year — ‘I really need to pick it up.’”
Union Pitching Coach Denver Ripley has noticed the difference. He admitted when he first saw Johns, he couldn’t have imagined being a part of signing ceremony some 3-4 years later.
“He worked hard,” Ripley said. “He made it happen. You could see a real jump this past year.”
During the signing ceremony, Union Superintendent of Schools Mike Ripplinger spoke about the hard work and commitment it was going to take in college. Johns nodded his head as he listened. In fact, he looked as if he was ready to take the ball and step onto the mound for FSCJ that very moment.
“I’m ready for it. I’m ready for everything that’s coming at the next level,” Johns said.
Johns has mostly filled the role of a reliever for the Tigers. Ripley said if the team was in a jam, the question was always, “Let’s get Luke going.”
“Luke came in and did his job,” Ripley said.
Last year, he Johns a 3.37 ERA in 14 appearances (18.2 innings). He struck out 21 of the batters he faced and walked only 10 in recording five saves and recording one win.
He made two appearances in the 2020 season, most of which was lost due to COVID-19. Johns had a 3.50 ERA that year and went 1-0.
Johns should be the Tigers’ go-to guy this upcoming season with the graduation of Braxton Dukes, Tripp Davis and Whip Davis, who combined to throw all but 30 of the team’s 173.2 innings last year.
“He wants to hit. He wants to play in the field,” Rimes said. “He’s probably going to be our main man this year, so we’re trying to take care of him.”
Rimes said Johns is good at mixing up his pitches and good at not letting what happens in a game negatively affect him.
“Nothing bothers the kid,” Rimes said. “He has a good time. He laughs. I’ve only seen him mad one time.”
He may have a good time when he’s in the game, but Johns said he’s all business. He calls it the “bulldog mentality.”
“It’s just controlling the game,” he said. “I’ll look a batter in the eyes. I’ll stare at him. You’ve just got to control the game and show you’re the more dominant one in order to win.”
As for O’Steen, it was his desire to always give 100 percent that brought him to St. Johns’ attention. Union hitting/outfield coach Jiwan James said O’Steen, as a freshman, was warming up prior to a game at Williston. The seriousness and the work ethic he dispayed simply getting ready for a game was eye-catching.
“His recruitment process with St. Johns started that night in Williston as a freshman,” James said. “They didn’t come there to see him. They didn’t know who Jake O’Steen was, but that’s how it started — just by him doing what he’s supposed to do every time he steps on the field.”
Rimes said, “He takes rep after rep after rep. It’s like automatic with him.”
It may have taken hard work putting himself in position to play at the next level, but O’Steen has enjoyed it. In fact, he looks forward to the hard work he’ll have to continue in college.
“I ought to have some fun at the next level,” he said, adding, “I just want to keep on havng fun.”
In 14 games as a freshman, O’steen batted .143 with six RBI. He had a .930 fielding percentage and 16 put-outs.
O’steen played all seven games in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, batting .280 with three RBI. He stole five bases, had a .909 fielding percentage and recorded 12 put-outs.
Last season, O’Steen led the team with a .418 batting average. His 33 hits through 26 games led the team as well, while he was third in RBI with 20. He drew a team-high 19 walks and had the best on-base-percentage at .566. He hit three triples (tied for first) and seven doubles (tied for second), while stealing a team-high 22 bases.
O’Steen’s fielding percentage in 2021 was .940. He had 39 putpouts.
Rimes said a coach doesn’t have to worry when he has a player like O’Steen playing second.
“If it’s a ground ball, it’s an out,” Rimes said. “Very rarely is it not going to be an out.”
The next level
When it comes to evaluating himself right now and what he needs to do to succeed in college, Johns said his main focus will be on what he does off the field.
“Working out’s the biggest thing,” he said. “Just getting more fit and more athletic.”
Rimes concurred, saying it’s a mixture of that and keeping up that work ethic.
“He’s got to get in the weight room and get stronger, keep doing what he’s doing and stay healthy,” Rimes said.
Johns already does a good job of mixing up his pitches, Rimes said, though like every pitcher, he does have his go-to pitch.
“I’ve got a splitter that’s my main pitch, my favorite pitch,” Johns said. “Some days, it does something different, but most of the time, it’s my best pitch. I’m really confident with it.”
O’Steen is confident with where his defensive play is at right now. He said he needs to work on his bat to get ready for the next level. He said he especially struggles with low curveballs.
“Hopefully, I can keep on working hard and get that up,” O’Steen said in regard to his at-the-plate performance. “My defense is definitely there.”
Rimes doesn’t believe O’Steen will have much of a problem, saying, “He’ll probably see bigger arms, but if he can keep doing what he’s doing and just keep working, he’ll have no problem.”
As you may have noticed, the word “work” was used a lot by Johns, O’Steen and their coaches. It’s something Rimes and his staff are big believers in. If you want to play baseball for UCHS, you’re going to earn the right.
“We try to get them ready,” Rimes said. “We’re hard on them. We push them and push them. They get aggravated at us, but if it’s hard now, when you get (to college), it’ll be easy because you’re used to working hard.”
Johns and O’Steen still have a high school season to play, but they can’t wait until they get the chance to step on the field for their respectively colleges.
“It’s going to feel great,” Johns said, adding, “I’m just ready to take it to the next level and do the best I can.”
O’Steen said, “It’s definitely going to be a dream come true.”
