Jake Manning 2003 MAC Outfielder

      Jake came to Mineral Area College from Fox High School in Arnold, Missouri, and had an

      immediate impact.  He was a first team NJCAA All-American selection after his freshman season

      in 2002, where he hit .410 with 21 home runs and 81 RBI in 46 games.  Manning hit .395 with

      four home runs and 60 RBI in 43 games during and injury-plagued sophomore campaign.  Jake

      was a 43rd round pick of the Florida Marlins in the 2002 MLB First-Year Player Draft, but chose

      to continue on the college route signing at the University of Alabama.

   

Manning ended up at Southwest Missouri State University in 2004, and was a legitimate power threat while staring in the outfield.  He earned second team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors while leading the team in home runs (7), RBI (45) and slugging percentage (.477).  He had 15 multi-hit games and 12 games with two or more RBI.  Manning had a team season-high 18-game hitting streak (4/16-5/8).   During that streak Manning hit .429 (30-of-70) with four home runs, five doubles and 29 RBI . 

Jake is currently playing for the River City Rascals (O'Fallon, MO) of the Frontier League.  He was picked up in June 2005 and made an immediate impact by making a game-saving diving catch in the outfield to preserve a rascals win in his very first game with River City.  His first hit came a few games later in a long Home Run to center in a Rascals win.  Manning hopes to make it to the Major Leagues, and is getting tips daily from Rascals' hitting instructor (former St. Louis Cardinal slugger) Jack Clark.