Whiz Kid: Upper Dublin Baseball's Jesse Kohler

If the Upper Dublin Cardinals want to build on their 9-9-3 record last season, they will need a strong season from junior pitcher Jesse Kohler, who has been described by Cardinals’ manager Ed Wall as the ace of the pitching staff.

Kohler said he has been throwing and swinging before he could even walk. He learned the game from his hero—his father—who was a minor league pitcher for the Miami Marlins of the Florida State League in 1985.

Kohler can also play first and third, but says pitching is his true love.

"I'll play wherever the coach puts me," said Kohler. "My dad always taught me that versatility is one of the best aspects of a player."

When Kohler is on the mound, he has five pitches he can unleash on the hitter: a four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, a curveball, a cutter and a circle changeup.

Kohler said he sets goals for himself before each game, but once he is on the mound, he doesn't really set goals, and he'll just try to reflect on the game after he pitches.

"My favorite part of pitching is just having complete control of the game," said Kohler. "You start off with the ball, and every decision and everything that happens in the play comes down to what you did in the beginning. When I go out on the mound, I just try and be the most energetic person possible to strike fear in the heart of the opponent and put a sense of urgency in my teammates. Everybody knows that baseball can be a slow sport, and it can be difficult to stay in it, but when you focus, it's really fun. I try to help my teammates do that."

On the professional level, Kohler said he most admires and tries to emulate Roy Halladay, the ace of his favorite team, the Philadelphia Phillies.

"He has the heart of a lion," said Kohler. "I look up to him. He's got 169 wins and 58 complete games. That's incredible. I try to imitate the way he pitches complete games so easily."

After high school, Kohler says he wants to play Division I baseball, like his father. Kohler says he has been talking to some coaches, but he hasn't decided where he is attending yet. He knows the importance of an education, and he wants to study political science or broadcast journalism, or both.

"I'm a student athlete, and the student part comes first," said Kohler. "Without school, I can't play."

When he's not pitching, Kohler tries to stay healthy and fit by working out frequently. He also played football and basketball as a freshman in high school, and continued basketball throughout his sophomore season until a sprained ankle prompted him to focus solely on baseball.

This season, Kohler has set himself—and his team—one goal: winning the conference championship.

"I've got to do everything in my power to help my team win," said Kohler. "That's my responsibility."