By Mike Ramczyk
While most 16-year-olds are thinking of saving up to buy the latest video game, asking their crush to the prom or even where to get their first job, Jacob Lindemann is different.
The Burlington High School junior just so happens to be blessed with a ferocious right arm, one that can throw a baseball 91 miles per hour in 60 feet.
He has worked to get here, though. Years of club baseball combined with high school tutelage, along with a workout regimen that strengthens his able muscles, have Lindemann in a position where multiple Major League Baseball scouts are showing up to watch him pitch – in a regular season game.
The Lindemann Train kept rolling Monday night, as the 6-foot-5, 220-pound soft-spoken fire-baller tossed seven innings of three-hit baseball in a 6-2 victory at Wilmot.
Burlington improved to 11-3 and 8-1 in the Southern Lakes Conference, completing a two-game season sweep of Wilmot. The first meeting was a 1-0 pitcher’s duel.
On Monday night, it shaped up as another pitcher’s duel, this time with Wilmot’s Troy Hickey taking a 2-0 lead into the sixth inning.
The wheels fell off for the Oklahoma State University recruit, as the Demons rallied for three runs in both the sixth and seventh innings.
After allowing single tallies in the third and fourth, Lindemann finished the game with three scoreless innings, including a 1-2-3 seventh.
Dale Damon went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI to lead the Demons.
Aaron Sturdevant added a hit and two RBIs, and Bryan Studevant, Tanner Strommen, Cal Tully and Lindemann each added one hit.
Lindemann struck out eight, walked two and gave up one earned run.
Lindemann improved to 6-0 and maintained his microscopic ERA.
“I’ve known Hickey since we were 13,” Lindemann said. “We’re doing pretty good this season. In the offseason, I work hard at Hitters in Racine and work on my velocity.”
Lindemann said his offseason work in the winter included arm maintenance and weight training.
During the high school season, he said, the weight training subsides to allow his muscles to stay loose.
Hickey, Lindemann and Waterford’s Matt Korman are three Hitters players during the club season.
Lindemann said he recently spoke to Korman about Waterford, which has won 12 straight games and is undefeated in the Southern Lakes Conference, a game ahead of Burlington.
Burlington plays Waterford May 17.
“Korman said he’s excited to play us,” Lindemann said. “He didn’t say if they were going to win, but he said he wants to face me.”
Lindemann said his goals extend beyond the high school season.
“If I keep working at it, I believe I can throw in the upper 90s,” he said. “It’s every baseball player’s dream to make the Major Leagues. I have that dream, too.”
What will it take to get to the next level?
“Velocity and a lot of command,” Lindemann said. “I have a curveball and changeup. I need to work on my change the most.”
Burlington will host a doubleheader Thursday against Elkhorn at Beaumont Field beginning at 4:30 p.m.
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