No ordinary Joe
Joseph Baka is no stranger to hard work.
The 18-year-old, Grade 12B student at A.N. Myer has worked tirelessly in the gym, on the field and in the classroom which has paid off in an athletic/academic scholarship to play baseball for Canisius University starting in 2024.
“I’m really excited about it because ever since I saw Owen Diodati (Myer) and Matthew Donnison (St. Paul), being from the Falls, I wanted to followed in their footsteps,” Baka said. “It feels good I don’t have to worry about what school I’m playing for next year so I can just focus on training and getting bigger and stronger and throwing the ball harder so I can help right out of the gate next year.”
Myer baseball coach Dave Buchanan is a big fan of Baka.
“He has worked extremely hard on his craft,” Buchanan said. “Joe has made the most of his 6-foot-4, left-handed frame and molded himself into a D1 prospect. To see where he came from in Grade 8 to where he is now is quite remarkable.
“Not only has he worked hard on improving his pitching abilities through countless lifting and pitching workouts, but he just as importantly worked hard in the classroom. Joe is a dedicated and outstanding student and it’s paid off with a scholarship.”
Baka said his drive to do all he could to get to the next level kicked in during the COVID pandemic.
“I was in Grade 8 and seeing Owen Diodati there lifting and seeing how hard he was working lifting that probably also influenced my work ethic,” he said.
Baka played minor ball in the Falls as well as a stint with Bullett Proof Baseball. He spent the last two seasons in Oakville but had high praise for his time as a Falcon.
“(Coaches) Jay Burdon and Travis Hubbel set the foundation for the athlete I was,” Baka said.
Baka met with the coaching staff at Canisius this summer and was quickly impressed.
“I liked how the coaches made me feel like they wanted me to come and play for them. Once I met them, I felt the connection and they seemed friendly and welcoming and on the visit some of the players told me it was a good program and a good fit and that also had an influence,” he said.
Baka said he was told he would be in the mix for playing time next season for the Golden Griffins, who also feature Welland’s Royce Consigli.
“They said I’ll have to work for it but I have a good shot to compete for a main role from the start.”
Baka features a fastball, ranging from 86-91 miles-per-hour, as well as a curve and change up.
“I like to blow the fastball by the hitters but if they can catch up to the fastball then I’ll go to either the change or curveball,” he said. “I was always a way better pitcher than a hitter but I still hit.”
Baka plans to pitch in a collegiate summer league next year and continue to his work with a remote training program which has helped him get physically stronger and aided in his mechanics.
Buchanan will miss Baka but is looking forward to seeing him perform for Canisius.
“Joe is a feel good story. He’s a person that is genuinely kind and considerate. And he deserves to have amazing success in the future. We are fortunate to have Joe on our team at Myer and we can’t wait to go watch him pitch so close to home over the next few years,” Buchanan said.
Dear reader. If you liked this story or one of the 5,500 other stories found on our website, please consider hitting the Support Us button on the right-hand side of our home page and making a PayPal contribution to our website. Your support would be much appreciated. If you are a business owner, please consider advertising on our site. Our rates are reasonable and we provide plenty of exposure for your business. Contact bpotrecz@outlook.com for more information.
