Tidd to play collegiate baseball

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    One athlete has learned that hard work can pay off.
    Jacob “Jake” Tidd, son of Anita and Grady Tidd of Hodgdon, will be taking his baseball talent to Gordon College this fall.
    Once he was accepted at the college, officials began following his high school career.
    “I chose Gordon because of the Christian atmosphere, as well as the opportunity to play baseball for a Division III school,” he explained. I also chose Gordon to further my education through their excellent business program, which frequently graduates business majors straight into a career.”
    Tidd is coming off a very productive baseball season, with a .400 batting average, with two homeruns and 10 RBIs in 13 games.
    He led his team in hits over the last four years and committed just one error in his last two years of varsity baseball.
    “I’ve learned that baseball is a game of patience and hard work,” said the two-year Hodgdon captain. “For three years, I could only hit singles through the middle. I had no power in my swing, but I worked hard over the last 12 months to strengthen myself and become a more powerful hitter.”
    Tidd has been playing baseball since he was in third grade from Little League to Babe Ruth League baseball. As he as matured as a player, Tidd defines himself as having developed a strong “at bat” sense, with his fielding needing a bit more refining.
    “I feel as if I can hit at the college level,” he said. “I’ve always hit for contact and had a strong on-base percentage. My craft in the field needs to be sharpened in order to be anything other than a DH for Gordon College as I always focused on hitting in high school.”
    Tidd credits Hodgdon varsity baseball coach Robert Smith for improving not only his baseball skills, but his outlook as well.
    “I want to thank him for the hard work he has put into making me the best player I can be, as well as a person,” said Tidd. “Without him, I may not even be going to college, let alone being invited to play collegiate baseball. So for that I thank him.”
    Playing at the collegiate level can be demanding, but Tidd has a purpose driving him.
    “Cut and dry, my goal is to win a championship,” he said. “For four years I have been on teams close to making the playoffs only to come short of our goal. I want to win a championship for Coach Rypel and Gordon College whether that team has me hitting cleanup or sitting on the pine. I’m going to work hard and do all I can in order for that to happen.”
    “Jake is going to be a great fit for our program because he is extremely motivated and is a tireless worker,” said Gordon baseball coach Rypel. “I consider him a DH at the college level and when he does square the ball up, he hits it hard.”
    Rypel knows that young players need to shift from the high school mentality to a more collegiate competitive mindset.
    “Jake knows he has a lot of adjustments to make as a hitter before he is ready to step in and make an impact,” Rypel said. “But he is the type of player who will out work the room. I think Jake will be a quality fit for the Gordon College baseball family and I look forward to having him in our program this fall.”