2003 Outlook
A late addition to the Husker roster, Jake Foutch enrolled at Nebraska in time for the spring semester and may be a contributor for the Huskers in 2003. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound freshman left-hander earned honorable-mention All-Nebraska honors from both major state papers last spring, and Husker Pitching Coach Rob Childress believes that Foutch?s best days lie ahead.
"Jake is someone who we think has a very high upside," Childress said. "At 6-5, 205 pounds, he has a great frame and is still growing. On the mound, he has great arm action, and we have seen him increase his velocity throughout his senior year and over the summer. As he continues to develop, we think Jake will be a major contributor in this program."
Because Foutch wasn?t on campus during the fall, he hasn?t pitched competitively since the summer and enters the spring at the back end of a talented and deep staff. While it may take most of the preseason to decide if he will be a major contributor or take a redshirt season, Childress believes that he has a lot of potential."
Before Nebraska
Foutch pitched for Coach Steve Buso at Valley High School. Foutch was one of the few bright spots for the Terriers as a senior, compiling a 3-3 record in seven starts, as VHS went just 5-10 in 2002. The southpaw struck out 56 batters and walked 27 in 39 innings en route to honorable-mention all-state honors from both the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World-Herald. His 56 strikeouts ranked fifth in the state last spring. He was dominant at times, throwing a 10-inning two- hitter with 16 strikeouts in a win over Omaha South. He came back four days later against Nebraska City, firing a complete-game one- hitter with 10 strikeouts. During the summer, he played American Legion ball, going 7-4 in 67 innings pitched to help his team to a district runner-up finish in 2001 and 2002.
Foutch, who also lettered in football and earned honorable-mention all-state honors in basketball, chose Nebraska over Nebraska-Omaha, Midland and Hutchinson Community College.