SENIOR WEEKS: Welsch was hoping to ignite Downingtown West’s bid to reclaim Ches-Mont

Jake Welsch was poised to have a very big senior season for the Downingtown West baseball team.

After hitting over .370 last season, the Whippet senior was going to be the leadoff man for a team that was deadset on snatching back the Ches-Mont League National Division title from Downingtown East, which won the crown last year after five straight title seasons for the Whippets.

But, Welsch and the rest of his Downingtown West teammates will not get the chance to get that title back, after the PIAA cancelled the spring sports season on April 9 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I mean it was definitely upsetting for us,” said Welsch, who will attend Division III Denison (Ohio) in the fall. “When the season was on hold I said to myself what can I do to stay in shape for the season. Then, when the season was cancelled, I said I have to be ready for Legion baseball. Then, the Legion season was cancelled, so now I am getting in the best shape I can be for next year at Denison. But, we really as a team wanted to get that title back from Downingtown East.

“We know all those guys at East and they are good guys but we really made it the No. 1 goal since we started working out in January to get that title back,” Welsch said. “That was our No. 1 goal this season and then was to win some games in the district playoffs and make the state tournament this season. And I was excited to be playing for coach [Scott] Rambo. He has a great passion for the game and everyone around West baseball was really pumped for this season.”

First year head coach Scott Rambo, who has been the Downingtown West assistant for the past eight years before ascending to the top spot, was really looking forward to getting the Whippets back out there and he talked about what Welsch brought to the Whippet attack.

“Jake is a player we were really counting on as a leadoff hitter and the anchor of our outfield this season,” Rambo said. “He is the type of player any coach would want to have. He loves the game and would run through a wall to help his team win.”

Although Welsch will not get the chance at a senior season the Whippet leadoff man is very excited about his college choice.

“Out of all the schools I visited, I really fell in love with Denison,” Welsch said. “I really connected with the baseball coaching staff there and I want to be part of a program that is on the rise. They went 39-9 two seasons ago and they won their conference last year and the school has great academics also so it was a no-brainer for me. I am really happy with my choice.”