Beebe is pitching with confidence for Islanders

Senior’s fastball and slider are his go-to pitches.

With an 89 mph fastball in his pitching arsenal and a stellar defense behind him, Jack Beebe is firing on all cylinders this baseball season.

Mix in a 0.00 earned-run average at press time, and the Mercer Island High School (MIHS) senior hurler is notching a season to remember.

“I’m pitching with a lot of confidence. Just help my team get the win each time I go out there and compete,” said Beebe, who sported a 5-0 record over 34 innings and had 42 strikeouts at press time for the defending state champs.

Beebe, who has also been unleashing a solid slider, gives heaps of credit to Islander junior catcher Tyler Gilroy for putting his high baseball IQ into play while calling a good selection of pitches each game.

On the defense front, the Islanders registered four inning-ending double plays in a recent 3-0 victory over Lake Washington with Beebe and senior Austin Cupic sharing pitching duties.

“It’s really exciting. My defense all year has been great,” Beebe said of the double plays against LW. “I think, honestly, they’re one of the top defenses in the state of Washington. In that game, they proved it to, I think, everyone that they’re one of the top.”

Both MIHS and LW share the 3A KingCo title with 10-2 records heading into the league tournament at Bannerwood Park in Bellevue. It is the seventh league title for the Islanders (14-4 overall at press time this season) in their program’s history.

Beebe, Cupic and senior Evan Otte — who head coach Dominic Woody calls the 3 Amigos — had surrendered just three earned runs over a combined 65 innings pitched at press time.

On the Islanders’ team dynamic, Beebe noted: “It’s a great group of guys. Everyone out there is really positive.” In true teammate form, Beebe distributed shout-outs to seniors Cutter Werdel, Edgar Nakamura, Max Clark and Marques Abulhosn for leading the way in supporting their fellow Islanders.

Beginning his baseball career at the age of 5, Beebe spent a wealth of time as a catcher before trotting up the way to man the pitcher’s position his sophomore year.

Although he doesn’t bat anymore, Beebe took a stroll down memory lane and noted that he went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles when his Mercer Island Little League 10U all-stars won the District 9 title.

When college rolls around in the fall, Beebe plans to play baseball at Whitman in Walla Walla and possibly major in business.

The Reporter asked Beebe a series of questions to a get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his life:

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

When it’s a game day and you’re late to the bus or late to the warm ups. (He usually arrives 15-30 minutes early.)

If you could go to dinner with one person, who would that be?

Tiger Woods. I just think he has a good mindset.

How do you like to spend your spare time?

I like to spend it out either on the water or just out in the sun. Just relaxing, having fun. I like to wake surf; also just on a hot summer day, just jump in the water.

What’s your favorite movie of all time?

“The Hangover.”

What’s a skill that you’d like to learn?

Speaking different languages. I think that would be a dope skill to have.

What’s the best piece of advice that you would give a younger player coming into the program?

When you think the world is against you, always believe in yourself and the best will come for you.