Coach Paul Stevens laughed as he described Jake Owens as “a very stylish individual.”
“He is not afraid to look good,” Stevens said. “From head to toe.”
His teammates agree.
“He is a guy who will wear some wrist bands and some jerseys,” shortstop Tommy Finn said. “He definitely likes to be flashy that is for sure.”
But for all his flair off the field, Owens’ game on it is anything but flashy.
Throughout his career with the Wildcats, the senior has gained the admiration of both his coaches and his peers with his hard-nosed play and team-first attitude.
“He is always in here working and does not take plays off,” center fielder and best friend Aaron Newman said. “He is a guy who people really look up to.”
Owens’ give-it-your-all mentality has served him well in his four years leading Northwestern’s infield.
Heading into this weekend’s do-or-die series against Big Ten-leading Michigan, the second baseman sports a career .335 batting average with 252 hits. He sits eight hits behind Tom Hildebrand for the Cats’ all-time record.
This season, Owens has continued to add to those totals. He is batting .332 hitting out of the leadoff spot, leading the team in hits (61), triples (4) and runs scored (42).
While he is proud of his individual accomplishments, Owens said he prefers to be defined by his approach to the game.
“As a ballplayer, I see myself as a hard worker,” Owens said. “I am going to go out every game or practice and give all I can to help the team win.”
A native of Stevens Point, Wis., Owens arrived at NU as a three-time all-state baseball player. He led Pacelli High School to a Wisconsin state championship in 2003, his senior year.
But when he first arrived in Evanston, what impressed his teammates most was his determination and selflessness on and off the field.
“Coming in, when I first saw him hitting or taking groundballs, I said to myself, ‘this kid’s special’,” Newman said. “He did whatever he could to help the team win.”
As Owens’ career has progressed, his dedication and passion have made him a leader in the clubhouse.
While he may not be the most vocal leader, his voracious work ethic has made him a model player for underclassmen in the organization.
It’s a title that Stevens said Owens has embraced.
“I think he has adapted very well to it,” Stevens said. “A lot of people feel pressure in that position, but I think it is something that comes naturally to him.”
Still, for all his accolades, there remains a huge hole in Owens’ résumé: postseason success.
In his one trip to the Big Ten tournament in 2006, Owens hit .231 (3-for-13) as the Cats were eliminated in three games.
It is a legacy he hopes to change before he graduates.
“If there is one thing I want to leave (behind), is that this team can perform well in the tournament,” Owens said. “And that we have what it takes to be successful.”
Owens’ last shot at postseason glory comes down to this weekend’s series against the Wolverines. NU currently sits in sixth place, needing a strong series against Michigan to secure a berth in the Big Ten Tournament.
Adding fuel to Owens’ fire, it was the Wolverines who eliminated the Cats in 2006 – something he most certainly has not forgotten.
“Two years ago, we were up there all year and thought we deserved it,” Owens said. “The way they took that away from us, we want to get back at them and start a little streak of our own.”
