Former Chesapeake standout Jake Shibilsky (left) played under high school coach Jim Simms and was named to the U.S. Junior College All-Star team on Sunday.
High School coach Jim Simms loves to tell the story about Jake Shibilsky.
It was a Class 4A East Region tournament game against Patapsco in 2005 when Shibilsky stepped to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning with a man on and his team trailing 2-1. Moments before, Shibilsky confidently told his coach that their team would be walking off the field after his at-bat.
"I told Jake not to worry and just try and get a single," Simms said. "But he always knew what he was capable of. Always. Two pitches later, he hit the ball over the fence and we walked off the field."
Shibilsky, a standout pitcher and hitter at
CCBC-Dundalk, was not selected in the MLB Draft last weekend -- contrary to most predictions -- but was selected to the U.S. Junior College All-Star team. Along with 21 other players, Shibilsky will help represent his country against Taiwan in a three-game series in Tennessee on June 20-22.
"I got the call on Sunday and I was just ecstatic," said Shibilsky, who will play at Shepherd University next year. "It's such an honor to be picked to play for U.S. team and represent the country. It's also a great opportunity for me and should provide some good exposure."
Shibilsky's ultimate goal is to play in the major leagues and join players like 2006 Chesapeake graduate
Zach Moore, who was drafted by the Florida Marlins in this year's draft.
The Glen Burnie resident definitely has the numbers to back it up.
Shibilsky batted .427 this past spring for the Lions and added a team-high 41 RBIs, 10 doubles and seven home runs. From the mound, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound lefty went 3-6 with a 3.56 ERA in 55.2 innings pitched.
"Jake had a losing record but that's because we pitched him in every single big game," said CCBC-Dundalk coach Elliott Oppenheim, who also used Shibilsky as a designated hitter. "He has command of all of his pitches and his fastball gets into the upper-80's. He throws left-handed but bats right. Jake can definitely swing the bat."
He was named to the Maryland Junior College Conference all-conference first team.
Shibilsky was the only
Anne Arundel County player selected to the Washington Post All-Met team in 2004, his junior season at Chesapeake. He then underwent elbow surgery that following January, which forced him off the mound for his senior year.
"Jake told me, 'Coach, I won't be able to pitch but I'll give you everything I got,' and he certainly did," Simms said. "We played him at first base and DH. During his senior year, he was averaging a home run every six or seven at-bats."
Shibilsky hit .424 with four triples and a team-record 11 home runs his senior year with the Cougars. He scored 28 runs and drove in 22.
"I can't say enough about the coaches that have helped me along the way," Shibilsky said. "They would do anything for you and I really appreciate that."
Said Simms: "Someone is going to spot Jake in Tennessee and he's going to make it big because he's a player."