Stokes To Play Baseball At UMD

Wes Vork-NSO

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Oct 6

Kerry Rodd-NSO

Jamie Stokes will get an opportunity to live a dream next spring as a member of the UMD baseball team. Stokes, who graduated this spring from Esko High School, tried out in the fall with the Bulldogs and will be a member of the team this season.

While you could say that Stokes is a ‘preferred walk on’ as a player, the coaching staff of the Bulldogs knew plenty about the former Eskomo.

“I have been talking to coach (Bob) Rients over the past few years so we have been on the same page,” commented Stokes. “I knew I wasn’t going to get any money right away. They have seen me play and they liked what they saw.”

As a player on the varsity in Esko, Stokes showed speed and a strong arm. As a freshman, Stokes played some summer Legion baseball. He began getting some playing time early in his sophomore year and by the end of the season he was the starting third baseman. At the beginning of his junior year he switched to first base and from that point on he was a main stay in the Eskomos lineup.

The tryout process at UMD gave Stokes a chance to show what he could do when stacked up against other potential Division II athletes. There were two days of tryouts with testing on speed and throwing strength taking place the first day. Of all the players who attended the tryouts, it was Stokes who ran the fastest 60-yard dash times in 6.6 and 6.7 seconds. Stokes throwing velocity from the outfield was 83 miles per hour. Not bad considering the average major league pitcher throws 88 miles per hour.

“I tried out in the outfield and the infield since I play both,” explained Stokes. “I got a lot of comments on my speed. They liked how quick I was and how well I adjust to coaching.”

Stokes had been recruited by a number of schools out of high school, but he leaned towards UMD due to the business school.

“Other than UMD, Mesabi Range, Hamline, Itasca and St. Scholastica had talked with me,” mentioned Stokes. “It isn’t only about baseball, but it’s also about school. I am going into business and UMD has the second best business school in the state so that is a main component on why UMD was right for me.”

Through the years Stokes has also leaned on his father, Jeff Emanuel, to help him with his fundamentals and making sure he was ready to move to the next level.

“My dad deserves a lot of credit because he does so much for me and the team,” remarked Stokes. “He (dad) has always been there throwing me buckets after buckets of balls, or hitting fly/ground balls to me.”

Stokes also took a moment out to thank all his former coaches as well. “There is nothing in the world that can describe what it’s like to play on a sports team,” Stokes said. “There is just something about it and I am honored to be lucky enough to have played for my amazing coaches and even more importantly my dad.”

Kerry Rodd can be reached at Kerry@northlandsportsonline.com