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Josh Ake; Howard College IF

By: Dutchmen Front Office

A 5’11” 180 pounder, Ake received accolades throughout his high school career at Hunterdon Central in Flemington, NJ. Named All-State, All-Group, and All-Conference during his high school career, Ake was also rated the 4th best player in the state of New Jersey by Perfect Game and the 214th best player in the nation. His strong arm and incredible range in the field got him drafted by the New York Mets in the 29th round of the 2011 draft.

However, Ake decided to forgo signing and accepted a scholarship to the University of North Carolina. After impressing during his stint in the NECBL last summer, Ake transferred to Howard Junior College, a former JUCO National Champion and one of the premier programs in the country. Ake is set to start at shortstop for Howard before moving on to the University of Oklahoma in the fall.

Possessing quick hands at the plate and a solid line drive swing, Ake is a rare defensive whiz that can also help his team on offense. His smooth glove work and impressive range figure to make Dutchmen pitchers comfortable and aggressive on the mound, while his ever-improving offensive game will likely do the opposite for opposing pitchers. In a game that’s one and lost on defense, Ake figures to be a value member of the Dutchmen come summertime.

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