Pitching in: Jase Reinke plays key role on Cascade’s pitching staff

ALBURNETT — Cascade’s Jase Reinke was ready for a bigger role.

He said he anticipated being one of the pitchers the team would need to rely on this season. Not only was he right, but he has risen to the challenge.

Reinke has absorbed innings and transitioned from a contributor to one of the Cougars’ leaders on the mound. He pitched 4 2/3 innings of relief to earn the win, helping Class 2A No. 7 Cascade to a 7-2 victory over host Alburnett Tuesday night.

“I had a big chip on my shoulder but I felt comfortable with all the guys I have around me,” Reinke said about this season. “It’s a really good experience to go out there, throw strikes, have fun, and everything falls into place for you.”

The senior right-hander has surpassed his production from last season. In seven appearances and four starts, Reinke paces Cascade with 35 1/3 innings pitched and a 1.39 earned-run average. He is also tied for a team-best in starts and has three wins and one save.

“Coaches preach all the time to just throw strikes and good things will happen,” Reinke said. “I feel it’s been that way this year. I have an amazing defense that can do anything. When I have those guys behind me, I’m pretty confident in every pitch I throw.”

Reinke has assumed the No. 2 spot on the staff behind Cade Rausch, especially with injury hampering Cooper Hummel, who was 7-1 with the second-most starts last season. He has 17 strikeouts with just seven walks, causing fits with a funky, slightly sidearm delivery that keeps the ball low.

“Everybody knows he’s not going to walk guys,” Cascade Coach Roamn Hummel said. “He’s not going to hurt himself in any situation. Our guys are going to be ready because they put the ball in play against him.

“He throws a lot of strikes. He gives us a chance to win all the time.”

Hummel said Reinke has been consistent, throwing 75 to 80 pitches in outings. He averages more than five innings per appearance, consuming innings in a 27-game, six-week regular season.

“It has been efficient for us,” Hummel said. “It helps to know where we’re going.”

Reinke is selfless with a team-first attitude, but good luck getting the ball back once it is handed to him. He said he likes the fact that he can throw as long as the team needs.

“I do take pride in my stamina,” Reinke said. “I know I don’t throw overly hard. I just have to throw strikes. It is my mentality every game and I take it step by step.”

The Alburnett game demonstrated the faith Hummel has in Reinke. Postseason brackets for 1A and 2A are expected to be released Thursday. Tuesday night was one of the final outcomes that might be considered for assignments. The Pirates entered with 15 wins, so the Cougars needed the quality victory.

Reinke entered in the third, inheriting a 1-1 score with two runners on and one out. He struck out the first two batters he faced to end the threat.

“We knew this was a big game for us,” Hummel said. “We wanted to make sure we gave ourselves a chance to win. I knew Jase gave us that best opportunity.”

Reinke said he actually looked up to some of his teammates last season, including the Cougars’ ace Jack Carr. He said Carr was his mentor and made an impact on his pitching. Cascade is reaping the rewards.

“He actually showed me how to throw some of my pitchers,” Reinke said. “He’s also one of my closest friends, so he’d always be around, showing me how I can be my best, and that was a big help.”

The Cougars provided all the offense Reinke needed in the five-run fifth inning. They rallied with two outs, getting four straight hits. Cooper Hummel had an RBI single to hit in the go-ahead run. Ty Frasher, who had a diving stab to prevent a run in the fourth, followed with a single. Cass Hoffman and Mason Otting added a run-scoring double and triple in the next two at-bats.

“We came up with all that with two-out hits,” Roamn Hummel said. “It’s contagious. Hitting is that way and that inning turned into that for us.”

Cascade improved to 13-7 this season. Cooper Hummel and Frasher had two hits and an RBI to lead the Cougars against the Pirates (15-12).