Wolfe eager to get on the field at Bloomington with commitment to Western Illinois locked up
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (BVM) — Gage Wolfe has yet to play high school baseball for the Bloomington Purple Raiders. In fact, he has just one high school season under his belt. But after some spectacular play during last year’s summer-ball season, Wolfe caught the eye of college coaches, and committed to Western Illinois University last month.
Wolfe was a wrestler and basketball player throughout his youth and even into his high school years. The Bloomington junior was always a baseball player as well, and the sport has become his main focus over the last several years, as he has been able to take his game to the next level.
“Baseball was always a game that I knew I would be able to compete with anyone,” Wolfe said. “It’s such a mental game and I think baseball teaches you a lot of great lessons that you learn on your own. I’d say one of my best skills is just having fun. I don’t think I’ve ever had a good game without laughing and having fun.”
The 5-foot-10 shortstop looks up to several stars at his position to model his game after, including a couple guys who also like to have fun while out on the diamond in Fernando Tatis Jr. and Francisco Lindor.
While he is all about having fun on the baseball field, Wolfe and his family did endure some tough times when his younger brother was diagnosed with leukemia during his youth. His younger brother actually got to serve as his team’s bat boy while Wolfe was in junior high. But one of Wolfe’s most memorable moments from his baseball career came when his brother actually wasn’t there.
“He was our team bat boy when I was in junior high,” Wolfe said. “We were playing in a St. Jude tournament and he went to St. Jude of course. He had just left with my father to drive to Tennessee to get treatment so they weren’t able to make the game. But that game I hit a homerun and it just really hit home with me and created a soft spot in my heart.”
After eighth grade, Wolfe began playing with the Bloomington-Normal Baseball Association (BNBA). After making the “A” squad, Wolfe knew he had a serious future in the sport.
“That was the first year where I was like this is really where it starts,” Wolfe said. “I really had a good summer and had a lot of people noticing how skilled I was and my bat was showing up. I worked my tail off all last year and this summer I really took it to the next level.”
Playing this summer, Wolfe had both a batting average and an on-base-percentage of over .600. He proved his talent once again, and seeing his work pay off was a motivating factor for the shortstop.
“I was killing it for sure,” Wolfe said. “The reward of seeing that my hard work was paying off was like candy to me. I just kept wanting it more and more and I realized I started taking the game really serious and there is no such thing as taking games off anymore. I was pretty impressed with myself and I’m still striving to get bigger, stronger and be the best I can.”
Although Wolfe is just a junior who has only one high school baseball season under his belt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his last couple summer seasons have helped him receive significant interest from college programs.
The first official offer he received was from Western Illinois University, and it was one which he couldn’t refuse.
“I talked to multiple other schools and I appreciate their interest and love,” Wolfe said. “But Western was my first offer and that just really stuck with me. During these times, getting offers is hard. Coach Andy Pascoe called me and told me he wanted me on this roster and I just couldn’t get it out of my mind. It’s a great fit for me with a good school, I can play Division I level baseball, and my family is close to home. I’m thankful to be able to play at the next level.”
I’m proud to announce my verbal commitment to Western Illinois University! I would like to thank all my friends, family, and coaches who have helped me through this process.💜💛@PBRIllinois @apascoe5 @CoachKsAcademy @2021BHSBaseball @ChicagoELITE18u pic.twitter.com/WJWtVVyxWm
— Gage Wolfe (@Gagewolfe1) December 2, 2020
With the challenges of the recruiting process due to the pandemic, Wolfe and his father decided to take an unofficial visit to Western Illinois’ campus, which cemented his decision.
“It really opened my eyes to what I wanted in college,” Wolfe added. “Something about Western just clicked for me and I felt like I was back at home.”
Wolfe has a couple more years until he gets to Western Illinois, and is eager to see who will be joining him in the team’s 2022 class. He hopes to get better everyday until his career with the Leathernecks begins, and draws motivation to do so through his travel ball experience.
“Playing those better teams, you think you’re good but there is always someone out there better than you. That just sticks with me and you have to have a chip on your shoulder and keep striving. One day, I want to be the guy that everyone looks up to.”
With his college commitment sealed, Wolfe is eager to take the field for the Bloomington Purple Raiders this spring. If he is able to, it will actually be the first time he plays at Bloomington, as the 17-year-old attended nearby University High School during his freshman season.
“I applied to University High and got accepted and thought I’d give it a shot,” Wolfe explained. “I really enjoyed it and it was a cool experience to go there. But I started missing back home and all my former best friends.”
During his freshman season, Wolfe was on the junior varsity team at University High, batting leadoff. But last winter, Wolfe decided to transfer back home to Bloomington, where he was poised to become the team’s starting second baseman. However, his season being canceled would push his anticipated Purple Raiders’ debut back another year.
“I didn’t tell anyone until the day I transferred and it was a great feeling for my friends and for me,” Wolfe said. “We were really excited to get back on the field and my high school coach is excited to have me back. I’m still waiting on getting to play that first game for him.”
With the season canceled, Wolfe set up a batting cage in his backyard. Keeping his skills sharp helped him into his summer ball season, and he has continued to get bigger and stronger throughout the fall. While the spring sport season remains in the balance, Wolfe is eager for the opportunity to get out on the field once again.
“I’m really excited and have been working out with all these guys who are just as excited as me,” Wolfe said. “Now that I’m back in Bloomington, we’re excited to get back on the field together. We have a strong, solid lineup and are excited to see what we can do with it. We love working hard and showing people. Now we just need to get on the field to show them.”
Through the rest of his high school career, Wolfe hopes to prove he is one of the top infielders in the state of Illinois. Getting stronger is one of his top priorities, and he hopes to show why he will be continuing to play beyond high school.
Going on to play at a Division I school is special, and something not a lot of athletes get the opportunity to do. It also brings about greater opportunity for a professional career. The chance to improve his game, and just maybe achieve a long-time dream, is not lost on Wolfe.
“As a kid, you’re always watching the pros,” Wolfe said. “Thinking about that is crazy to me. The MLB is always in my mind and I watch games thinking I could have a chance at this. Time goes on and I’ve realized I have something special and I need to take advantage of it and work harder than everyone else.”
