500 proves memorable win for Jakubowski
HUNTLEY — The black t-shirts were placed with care next to Huntley’s third base dugout at Jacobs High School.
The Red Raiders head coach for the past 17 seasons, Andy Jakubowski, was about to make history. When the third out of the sixth inning was recorded, Jakubowski gained his 500th career triumph after a 12-2 HHS win. The team’s 15-3 record also meant an 8-2 league mark.
“I’ve been blessed with great players, supportive parents, coaches and administration for 28 years, 23 as a head coach,” Jakubowski said. “It’s not about the accolades, though. It’s about the relationships, with players, and coaches. The most important thing for me is to prepare as many players as possible for college baseball.”
In fact, nine of the Class of 2023 members on the team will go on to play college baseball.
The Jakubowski era has accomplished nine regional championships, three sectionals and two state tournament appearances, led by a runners-up in Class 4A 2017-18.
Jakubowski coached at Rockford Boylan and the same field where he secured a 500-218 record, Jacobs. He also coached baseball at Elgin Community College.
“I’ll remember my years at Boylan and Jacobs but I’ve found a home at Huntley,” Jakubowski said.
Players were determined to give Jakubowski his milestone win on a chilly Monday afternoon in Algonquin. Starting pitcher Parker Schuring adjusted after a 2-0 Jacobs lead to work four and one-third innings. On offense, the lumber included Ryan Quinlan’s three-run home run added to by the same from Ryan Bakes and Brayden Bakes. The win helped improve fifth-ranked HHS to a 15-3 mark, 8-2 FVC.
The final run of the day was made possible with a fundamental play, which the coach always stresses. Quinn Drews’ bases loaded hit-by-pitch for an RBI gave Huntley a 10-run lead. Schuring and reliever Colby Aschenbsch combined to get the outs in the fifth inning.
“We talked about coach’s 500th earlier in the week,” Schuring said.
“Coach Jakubowski was the best coach I’ve ever had,” senior Brayden Bakes said.
The present HHS baseball coaching staff includes Derek Morehart, in his 14th year with the Red Raiders; Chris Klein, in his sixth season; Sean Walker and Mike Hlavacek, both in their fifth seasons.
Prior to this season, Jakubowski described his approach to successful baseball and gave insight to his diamond history.
“Our philosophy is pretty simple – pitch, play good defense and get timely hitting,” Jakubowski said. “We want to be quality teammates, pick each other up and get 1 % better each day. This is our recipe for success and our guys know this on day one of the season. We try to control what we can control and we get better each and every day.”
Jakubowski played college baseball at Northeastern Illinois University from 1991-94. He had hoped to go into professional broadcasting, “but I realized I didn’t have a face for TV or a voice for radio, I changed courses to become a Secondary Education teacher in Speech and Performing Arts,” he said prior to the season. “I had a speech teacher in high school who helped me get over a fear of speaking in public so I hope to help my students do the same. In addition, I had an infield coach, Isse Sopena, who took me under his wing in college and he was like my second father. The way he interacted with me to make me a better player-person is what I try to do with our players here at HHS.”
Jaubowski, whose wife Michelle is volleyball coach at Barrington, and children, Taylor, Taryn, Jake and TJ are all involved in sports. Jake was on hand Monday as he plays baseball at Heartland Community College. TJ is a sophomore on the varsity team.
Jakubowski’s dad took him to old Comiskey Park early on to watch White Sox games. “Some of my favorite White Sox players growing up were Buck Dent, Harry Chapas, Eric Soderholm and Jim Morrison,” he said.
