Decade’s best No. 2: Jimmy Webb became one of the best to ever play baseball at tradition-laden Loyalsock

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the latest in a series looking back at the top 10 baseball teams, coaches, games and players from last decade

It started as a young child taking batting practice swings against his father. And from there, a baseball flame grew into an inferno. Young Jimmy Webb kept practicing more, wanting more, getting better and helping his teams capture championships at every rung up the baseball ladder.

Eventually that drive, talent an toughness made Webb one of the greatest to ever play baseball at tradition-laden Loyalsock. The Lancers have captured a District 4-high three state championships and played in seven Eastern Region Finals since 2008. So if one wants to understand how good Webb was from 2012-15 just know that no one in program history has ever produced more hits. Webb delivered a decade District 4-high 151 hits last decade while also driving in 101 runs and scoring more than 100 times. So consistent was Webb that he averaged more than a hit per game during his high school career. A dynamic right and center fielder, too, Webb was a major reason Loyalsock put together one of the best four-year runs in state history, one which included two state championships, three district titles, three league titles and 89 wins.

“That’s special,” Webb said in 2015 after delivering his 150th career hit in a 7-1 Class AA state quarterfinal win against Schuylkill Haven. “It’s a lot of extra hitting sessions with my dad and just working on my swing and trying to get it done for my brothers.”

Time after time, Webb did get it done. He was a three-time all-state selection and would have been all-state every season had the Coaches Association not stopped producing all-state baseball teams in 2015. Webb never hit lower than .431 in a season, never compiled an on-base percentage lower than .600 and hit a career .478. More impressive, he consistently raised his average once the playoffs started, playing his best when it mattered most. He also topped 40 career stolen bases.

“When Jimmy is playing his best and worried about only the game there’s not many people that are better than him,” pitcher/shortstop Kyle Datres said in 2014. “He has great wheels, he can go get the ball and he hits the ball hard. He’s a great teammate and that’s all you can ask.”

Webb was part of what would become a record-breaking class by 2015 and which already had generated much hype before any of them played a high school game. Both Webb and his teammates exceeded that hype, too, winning at least 21 games in all four seasons. Webb immediately displayed his all-around prowess as a freshman in 2012, earning the first of four HAC-II and Sun-Gazette first team all-star honors while hitting .507 with 11 extra-base hits, 26 RBIs and 15 steals. A patient and disciplined hitter, Webb also drew 24 walks and produced a staggering .729 on-base percentage as Loyalsock captured both the HAC-II and District 4 championships.

Later that summer, Webb competed in a prestigious national tournament in Georgia and performed well, quickly becoming a Division I prospect. He committed to Wake Forest in the spring of 2013 as a sophomore, showing how highly-regarded he was. Webb transferred to Lock Haven once in college, but continued showing over the next three years why he is one of the state’s top players.

Webb continued being both an outstanding table setter and run producer from the No. 2 spot in the lineup, hitting .431 with 33 runs, 20 RBIs and 12 extra-base hits. His 3 for 3 performance with two RBIs and two doubles sparked Loyalsock to an 11-1 victory against eventual district champion Hughesville as Loyalsock won its fifth straight league title.

“Jimmy is more relaxed. We talk about the mental approach and just being able to come out and play the game and he did that,” former Loyalsock coach Jeremy Eck said. “He loves the game and he plays it 100 miles per hour.”

That approach made Webb one of the district’s best right fielders and, although his offense often received the attention, he repeatedly made plays throughout his high school career which changed or saved games. His sensational diving catch of a sinking line drive in the seventh inning of a thrilling 1-1 district semifinal against Montoursville saved two runs and likely extended the season as Loyalsock won 2-1.

That catch took on a life of its own considering what happened in states. Loyalsock thundered back after losing the district final to Hughesville and battered three straight district champions en route to the state final, hammering 25-win Salisbury 8-1 in the Eastern Final. Webb then hit a key RBI double and scored a run three days later as Loyalsock edged Beaver, 5-4 and captured the program’s second state championship.

“It shows what kind of team we have. We’re fighters,” Webb said after hitting .500 during states. “No matter what happened during the year someone always stepped up and we’ve never given up.”

Webb never surrendered a year later when a painful quadriceps injury threatened his campaign late in the regular season. Opponents, however, never knew Webb was hurting because he continued playing at such a high level without missing any games. He again played a monstrous role as Loyalsock took off following an 8-5 start and won its final 15 games, hitting .482 with 28 runs, 24 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.

And for a second straight year, Webb turned the state tournament into a showcase of what made him so good. He produced four straight multi-hit performances and went over 100 career hits as Loyalsock captured a second straight state championship. Webb delivered the decisive blow in a quarterfinal win against Notre Dame Green-Pond, slamming a two-run home run to dead center field that made it 4-0.

The signature play of Webb’s scholastic career, however, came while playing defense. Loyalsock led undefeated Central 3-1 in the fourth inning of the state final, but a runner was on first with no outs when Mike Mock slammed what looked like a certain double or triple toward the right-field wall. Webb, however, turned on his jets, raced back, leaped in front of the wall and made one of the more brilliant catches in state championship history. Webb not only saved a run, but prevented the tying run from standing on second or third with no outs. His team dominated from there, Webb went 2 or 3 with an RBI triple and Loyalsock became the first District 4 team to ever repeat as state champions, winning 5-1.

“Jimmy is kind of banged up, but he tracks the ball real well. He made a great catch,” first baseman Tommy Baggett said. “We have all the confidence in the world in Jimmy making that play.”

“That’s Jimmy in a nutshell,” Eck said. “That’s why he’s a Division I baseball player to go out and make a play like that. That was a huge play in the game.”

But that was what Webb did. He made the spectacular seem routine. He did so again as a senior, hitting .493 with an area-high 37 hits and area-best 31 RBIs. Webb also scored 25 runs, made a smooth transition to center field and became one of the area’s premier pitchers. Despite rarely pitching the previous three seasons, Webb went 6-0 with a 0.41 ERA, earned the win in the district final against Troy and struck out 43 in 29 1/3 innings.

Webb was at his best again in the playoffs and hit .500 throughout the postseason as Loyalsock came closer than any team in state history to winning three straight state championships. Webb helped Loyalsock win 21 straight games, reach the state’s Final 4 and win five more playoff games.

“Some of the biggest hits in the history of Pennsylvania have come off his bat in the state championships,” Eck said. “He’s a gamer and he’s been groomed his entire life to perform in these big moments and he steps up and gets it done when it matters.”

Loyalsock might not have won a third straight state championship that year, but 2015 might be Webb’s favorite year. His younger brother Hunter also started that year as a freshman and the brothers were able to play for the first and only time together. Hunter made a huge impact, immediately setting into the middle of the lineup and also would enjoy a fantastic scholastic career. He certainly had a good mentor showing him the way.

“We realize how special it is right now, but later on in life when we’re setting down at the dinner some time these are going to be the things we talk about most,” Webb said that year. “Getting a chance to play with your brother for a year is just awesome.”

Look at the accomplishments. So was Webb.