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College Baseball Player Weighs in on Season Cancellation College Baseball Player Weighs in on Cancelled Season

By William Scott

About 5 weeks ago, sports came to a halt…

Making it official…the NCAA Tournament has been cancelled.

And while it was difficult news for all athletes who’s seasons were either postponed or cancelled, it was even harder for people like Jake Zatopek – a pitcher for Incarnate Word University – who missed the 2019 season due to arm injury. And spent the entire offseason trying to get healthy for 2020.

It really sucks. You, know. You work for an entire year – don’t get to step on a mound. And then finally, I hop on the mound and have success. Before you know it, season gets cancelled, so.

As the virus started to spread around the world, Zatopek never would have imagined that it would have an impact on his season and his team.

And we all go into the dugout for our meeting and coach is like “hey guys, sorry, there’s no more season.” We never would have thought that our entire season would get cancelled.

Even though he’s now at home and not with his team,…Zatopek is trying to stick with a routine…and is probably waking up earlier than most college students are right now.

I try to wake up at 8:00 every morning just to stay on some routine and then do whatever I need to do school-wise.

Zatopeck finished the 2020 season with an impressive 1.93 ERA. As a pitcher, it’s easier for him to do individual training during quarantine.

I do a lot of plyo balls, like weighted balls stuff. So I can basically do that anywhere all I need is a flat surface.

It may be a ways away, but Zatopek is already anxiously awaiting next season.

That’s gonna me one of the most incredible, most anticipated – probably the most anticipated college baseball season ever. Surely you get pumped up just thinking about it.

It’s gonna be fun for sure. Everyone is gonna have a lot of energy. Hopefully everyone has been doing what they can at home to stay ready, and then once we get back, it’s gonna be a good time.

In the meantime, he’ll continue to work on his new hobby.

For NCC News, I’m Will Scott

A little over a month ago, the unthinkable happened: sports were cancelled.

March is normally one of the busiest sports months of the entire year with the NBA, NHL, MLS, PGA Tour, college basketball, college baseball, and many other sports happening. And in about the span of 24 hours, all of them either postponed or cancelled their seasons.

One of the many athletes effected was Jake Zatopek – a redshirt sophomore pitcher for the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. The cancellation was especially difficult for Zatopek, because he missed the entire 2019 season due to an arm injury. And was pitching really, really well in 2020 – with an impressive 1.98 ERA.

“It really sucks. You, know. You work for an entire year – don’t get to step on a mound. And then finally, I hop on the mound and have success. Before you know it, season gets cancelled, so.” 

Now, Jake is at his home in the San Antonio area, trying to get ready for when baseball does come back.

“I try to wake up at 8:00 every morning just to stay on some routine and then do whatever I need to do school-wise…I do a lot of plyo balls, like weighted balls stuff,” he said. “So I can basically do that anywhere all I need is a flat surface.”

Given how the 2020 season ended so abruptly, Zatopek can’t help but think about how exciting the 2021 season will be.

“It’s gonna be fun for sure. Everyone is gonna have a lot of energy,” he said. “Hopefully everyone has been doing what they can at home to stay ready, and then once we get back, it’s gonna be a good time.”

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