BULLARD - Back a few years ago, Brook Hill’s, Jake Beam met and worked with former UT-Tyler’s head baseball coach, James Vilade and Beam knew where he wanted to go to college.

Things change, however, and with Vilade no longer at UTT, Beam did some reconsidering and choose a different route this past week, when he signed a national letter-of-intent to pitch for Cisco College.

With family and some Brook Hill faculty on hand, Jake said he is pleased with the new direction.

“I was set to go to play for Coach Vilade, but after he left things changed, and I just talked to Cisco and made some phone calls, and Coach Vilade was a lot of help for me too,” Jake said.

It wasn’t that long ago that Jake started working with Coach Vilade as his pitching instructor. Last summer, after several lessons and attending the UT-Tyler summer camp, Coach Vilade and Stan Phelps (the UTT pitching coach) asked Jake to play for them at UT Tyler, after graduation.

Pictured at top is Jake Beam signing his letter-of-intent to play baseball for Division I junior college power, Cisco College. Joining Beam on front row: mother, Sara, Jake, and his father, Brad. Second row includes sister Maddie Grace, Brook Hill baseball coach, Terry Pirtle, and brothers Coleman, and Ethan. Above, Beam and teammate J.B. Moss were both named Brook Hill’s Co-MVP for baseball at the Brook Hill Sports Banquet. Beam and Moss are both members of the Dallas Patriots select baseball organization. (Banner Photos by Doc Smith) “We were all so pleased with that opportunity that we honestly didn’t even look anywhere else,” said Beam’s dad, Brad. “Then James resigned as head coach at UTT, and Jake’s future in baseball was unclear.”

Vilade has moved on to his new job at Premier Baseball Academy, which heads the Dallas Patriots showcase teams, and he asked Jake to play with their organization this summer, which gave him some exposure to other schools.

It worked and Beam could not be happier.

“When I went out and took a visit, it’s a long way out there, but it just seemed like a perfect fit for what I am trying to do,” Beam said. “It would have been nice had it worked out at UTT, but Coach Vilade was really a big factor in getting an offer from Cisco.”

Getting to play for a Division I Junior College leaves options and hopes of something bigger happening after that.

“This is something that Jake has worked for since he was about 10 years-old,” his dad added. “Playing for the Dallas Patriots this summer made all the difference in the world, or Jake would have missed out on the opportunity to go to school on baseball scholarship,” the happy pop concluded.

Other schools showing interest in Beam were Central Arkansas, University of Texas at Arlington, Crowder Junior College. Clarendon College and Northland College were among some of the other colleges showing interest in his skills.

A three-time, all-district player, and two-tie all-state performer, Beam this last season held down a 2.71 ERA and a 9-1 mound record, while striking out 92.

Beam also swung a mean stick when at the plate, slugging at a .512 clip, including two homeruns, 16 doubles, and 37 RBI’s for Brook Hill.

Beam also pitched a three-hitter in the state semi-finals, to set up Brook Hill’s state bid that fell short.

Beam was the first Brook Hill player named to the Tyler Morning Telegraph’s All-East Texas first team.

“Brook Hill was a great move for me, and they have taught me more about life and doing the right thing, and I had some great coaches and teachers while I was there,” Beam added. “I’m gonna miss them, but I’m really excited about the prospects at Cisco and going out there and getting started.”

“I really enjoyed playing with my brother Coleman, and my live-in brother, Yasu Ohmukai,” Beam added about two of his former teammates. “Yasu was an exchange student and we really got to be just like brothers.”