Leake plays in College World Series

Mike Leake turned down an opportunity to sign with the Oakland Athletics after the 2006 draft in order to play college baseball at Arizona State University. Leake’s decision paid off when the Sundevils reached the College World Series.

“It doesn’t happen to most people,” Leake said of playing in the College World Series.

Leake was also part of the Sundevils team which won the PAC-10 championship in 2007.

“I was fortunate enough to go through it, especially my freshman year,” Leake said. “Not many people get the chance.”

Arizona State ended its season in the College World Series with an 8-7 loss in ten innings June 19 to the University of California, Irvine. Leake took the loss in relief, downgrading his won-loss record to 13-2.

His 13-2 season record was compiled in 25 pitching appearances, including three starts and the relief appearance in the NCAA post-season. He had 13 starts and 12 relief outings during his freshman year and compiled an earned run average of 3.69 over 127 innings. He allowed 126 hits and 59 runs, 52 of which were earned, over those innings and walked 29 batters while striking out 94. Two of his starts were complete games, including a June 2 win over the University of California, Riverside in the NCAA regional.

His other complete game was in PAC-10 competition, where in eight starts he threw 55 1/3 innings. He allowed 58 hits, 31 runs, 24 earned runs, and 14 walks against conference opposition while striking out 38 PAC-10 batters. Leake finished with a 6-0 record in PAC-10 play along with a 3.50 earned run average.

In addition to winning the conference championship and reaching the College World Series, Leake also earned the Most Outstanding Player award for the Tempe regionals and was named to the PAC-10 first team. He was also a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American and was on the overall All-American third team.

Leake wasn’t surprised by such success his freshman year. “I was hoping it would come to me right away,” he said. “If I worked hard my first year I knew something would hopefully go my way, and fortunately it did this year.”

Leake was chosen in the seventh round of the 2006 draft by the Athletics. He was offered a significant bonus which included having the A’s pay his college tuition, but he opted for college baseball instead. “I got a chance to go to the (College) World Series, and that’s what I was hoping for,” he said.

“It’s been a great experience so far,” Leake said of his college career. “I’m pretty sure I made the right decision.”

The Tempe regional at Packard Stadium included Arizona State’s 9-2 win against UC Riverside June 2. Leake allowed four hits and one walk in his nine innings while striking out ten Highlander batters.

Leake was the starting pitcher in the June 9 super regional game against Mississippi at Packard Stadium but did not receive a decision in the Sundevils’ 4-3 win. Leake threw seven innings and allowed three runs on 13 hits, although he did not walk a batter and struck out five Rebels.

Leake’s final start of the 2007 season was during the College World Series at Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium. He threw seven innings June 16 against UC Irvine and allowed six hits and four runs. He did not walk a batter while striking out three Anteaters. Although Leake did not receive a decision, Arizona State scored a run in the eighth inning for a 5-4 victory.

In the June 19 loss Leake pitched 2 1/3 innings before giving up the winning run in the bottom of the tenth. That was the only run he allowed in that game; he also gave up six hits and two walks while striking out one.

“We ended up not doing too hot,” Leake said of the College World Series.

That didn’t obscure the overall situation. “It was a great experience; nothing could really top it,” he said. “Something that every freshman dreams of when they go to college.”

Arizona State finished the season with a 49-15 record, including a 19-5 record in PAC-10 competition. “It was a good year to start off with, I guess,” Leake said.

Leake added that he did well against teams he admired in high school and opined that the PAC-10 is probably the NCAA’s toughest baseball conference.

Leake was also invited to pitch in the prestigious Cape Cod League during the summer but turned down that offer. “I’m taking the summer off from throwing on the mound,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll be able to go to it next year.”

Leake spent the summer in an Arizona league playing shortstop. He lived in Valley Center before moving to Fallbrook in 2004 and was a shortstop on the Valley Center varsity baseball team as a freshman and sophomore.

Leake began playing outfield on the Fallbrook High School team which included shortstop Ryan Smith. “We needed outfielders at Fallbrook,” Leake said.

As a junior Leake played shortstop as well as the outfield when he wasn’t pitching and in his senior year Leake was an outfielder as well as a pitcher for the Warriors.

Leake lived in Rancho Bernardo before his family moved to Valley Center, where Leake spent his middle school years as well as his first two years of high school. Leake’s father coached the 2006 Fallbrook High School graduate in Little League and taught his son the value of versatility. “I try to pride myself on being able to play where the coach wants me to,” Leake said.

Leake may play outfield or shortstop at ASU in 2008 as well as returning to the mound for the Sundevils. “We’ll see who comes in,” he said.