St. Louis Cardinals draft former RHS baseball player
By Bill Tamburrino
After three stellar seasons on Concordia University’s baseball team in Portland, Ore., Blake Drake decided to forgo his senior season and turned pro.
The 2011 Ramona High graduate was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and assigned to their farm team in Johnson City, Tenn. Drake started playing baseball in Ramona at age 6 and signing with the Cardinals fulfills a lifelong ambition.
“My mom (Trina) and dad (Brian) have been there every step of the way supporting me and encouraging me,” he said. “Of course I was a Padre fan, but signing with a great organization like the Cardinals is great!”
Drake earned four varsity letters at Ramona High School and was selected all league twice. His grade point average and baseball skills gained him a scholarship to Concordia where he earned all Cascade Conference his sophomore and junior seasons. Drake hit .367 with 13 doubles, four triples and stole 20 bases as a sophomore. This season he hit .320 with 14 doubles, one triple and four home runs for the Cavaliers.
One scout from another organization described Drake’s athletic abilities: “Right now he is for sure a four tool guy. He can hit, run, throw, field. This season he showed potential to add hit for power to his skills set. Five tool guys are great finds.”
Drake started off his professional career by going 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base. He “cooled off” and finished his first week in professional baseball with a .429 average. He is starting in center field and is hitting in the three hole.
As part of his signing bonus, the Cardinals agreed to pay for the rest of Drake’s education when his baseball career is over.
He is adapting to life as a professional baseball player. A typical game day at home starts at 2:30 p.m.
“We get to the field and work on skills or take some hacks. At 5:00 we take batting practice. While the other team is hitting we grab a bite to eat in the clubhouse. Our games start at 7:00 and we are done and leave the field at about 11:00.”
Drake lives with host family Sarah and Vernon Wells.
“They have a beautiful home and I have my own room. They are great and it is a really great set up,” he said.
Drake and his lifelong friend, Jason Snodgrass, heard about Concordia University from RHS grad and Cavalier John Houts. Since their arrival at the college, several RHS baseball players have enrolled at Concordia. Next season Jordan Farhat, Tanner Williams and Kyle Wilson plan to join Snodgrass, Harrison McGhee and Kevin Hagan at Concordia.
Drake has a full time job and a shot at fulfilling the dream of many who play the game of baseball.