Jurgensen coming on strong for JC Brager team
Jaydee Jurgensen noticed something when Jake Kuebler left the JC Brager American Legion baseball team early this summer to play professional baseball.
Jurgensen soon realized there wouldn’t always be somebody there to help him get out of trouble.
“It made me focus a little more on my pitching when Jake left, knowing that if I got myself in a jam, I had to get myself out,” Jurgensen said. “There was no one that I could really leave the game to close it.”
There have been plenty of adjustments to make without one of the top players in the state. After all, the team consisting of Lincoln Southeast players lost its top pitcher/shortstop and the No. 4 guy in the lineup.
“It took us awhile to get used to missing all that, and get over the fact that he was gone,” coach Jeff Stoehr said.
Stoehr learned that Kuebler was going pro while the coach drove to Omaha for a game — a game Kuebler was supposed to start. Stoehr was surprised, but appreciated that Kuebler called to thank his coach and later attended a game to say thanks to many of his teammates.
Brager went 0-4 the first weekend Kuebler was gone, and has a 7-13 record going into play this weekend in the Mike Peterson Tournament.
Kuebler is probably missed most when Brager could use another quality pitcher during tournament play.
Jurgensen has helped fill the void with a handful of quality outings. After a rough start, Jurgensen has stuck out 17 batters in his last eight innings.
“For a sophomore, that’s pretty good,” Stoehr said.
With Josh Scheffert and Jurgensen, Brager has a decent 1-2 punch, but still needs to get quality outings from others.
Kuebler’s absence allowed Travis Miller to see more action on the mound, and Miller has thrown well at times, Stoehr said.
Already a young team, the Brager players have taken time to adjust to new roles, but they’re hoping to get on track with three weeks remaining before districts.
“It’s taken guys time to learn we don’t have that one person to turn to, and we have to get hits, too,” Jurgensen said. “I think we’re getting used to it.”
Reach Brent C. Wagner at 473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com.
Jurgensen soon realized there wouldn’t always be somebody there to help him get out of trouble.
“It made me focus a little more on my pitching when Jake left, knowing that if I got myself in a jam, I had to get myself out,” Jurgensen said. “There was no one that I could really leave the game to close it.”
There have been plenty of adjustments to make without one of the top players in the state. After all, the team consisting of Lincoln Southeast players lost its top pitcher/shortstop and the No. 4 guy in the lineup.
“It took us awhile to get used to missing all that, and get over the fact that he was gone,” coach Jeff Stoehr said.
Stoehr learned that Kuebler was going pro while the coach drove to Omaha for a game — a game Kuebler was supposed to start. Stoehr was surprised, but appreciated that Kuebler called to thank his coach and later attended a game to say thanks to many of his teammates.
Brager went 0-4 the first weekend Kuebler was gone, and has a 7-13 record going into play this weekend in the Mike Peterson Tournament.
Kuebler is probably missed most when Brager could use another quality pitcher during tournament play.
Jurgensen has helped fill the void with a handful of quality outings. After a rough start, Jurgensen has stuck out 17 batters in his last eight innings.
“For a sophomore, that’s pretty good,” Stoehr said.
With Josh Scheffert and Jurgensen, Brager has a decent 1-2 punch, but still needs to get quality outings from others.
Kuebler’s absence allowed Travis Miller to see more action on the mound, and Miller has thrown well at times, Stoehr said.
Already a young team, the Brager players have taken time to adjust to new roles, but they’re hoping to get on track with three weeks remaining before districts.
“It’s taken guys time to learn we don’t have that one person to turn to, and we have to get hits, too,” Jurgensen said. “I think we’re getting used to it.”
Reach Brent C. Wagner at 473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com.
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