JTA Baseball Fund
The JTA Baseball Fund is a non-profit organization, established in April of 2007, in memory of John T. "Jake" Andersen. The mission of the fund is to afford an eligible 12 year old baseball player, from Manchester NH’s Central Little League, an opportunity to attend a week long, overnight Baseball Instructional camp. The fund will pay all registration and tuition fees, as well as provide the recipient with necessary equipment and practice clothing. The fund will also provide a weekly spending allowance and transportation to and from the camp.
Additionally, the JTA Baseball Fund will give six players from Central Little League an opportunity to receive hitting instruction at Batting Clinics in the city of Manchester NH.
Over the next few weeks, the JTA Baseball Fund will be developing the necessary criteria for this opportunity and soliciting sponsors and donations. We will post all updates, news and contact information, as we receive them.
Thank you
John T. “Jake” Andersen
Jake Andersen was born to Catherine and Thomas Andersen in Manchester, NH on August 12, 1986. As the first of the family’s four children, the first grandchild and first nephew, he instantly became the center of everyone’s life and he received all the attention that came with the role. Every step he took, every word he spoke was “front page” news and was sent over the wire to grandparents, aunts and uncles. There was not a moment in the first 3 years of his life that went undocumented and there was no limit to the amount of influences impressed upon him.
One such influence was sports. At an early age Jake was introduced to and fell in love with sports. He immediately became a fan. Though captivated by all sports, his first love was one that remained with him all his life, baseball. It was his passion. Jake was a good-natured kid with a kind heart and a pleasant disposition, and it was easy for him to make friends, but when it came time to participate in sports, Jake was shy, nervous and lacking in self-confidence. In fact, if it were not for the coaxing of his parents, Jake would have remained a spectator.
Jake began playing baseball in Central Little League at the age of 6 and would remain in that league until he was 12. It was during these years that Jake developed a better understanding and a greater love for the game. It was also during this time that Jake developed a greater confidence in himself. Though he was not blessed with the greatest foot or bat speed, he was blessed with an ability to throw the ball and it was clearly evident to all who watched him play, that he belonged on the mound. Jake was a natural.
Smart, confident and strong. He was an ace.
Jake would continue playing baseball long after leaving little league but he always remained a pitcher and he always remained an ace. He continued to hone his skills and he continued to grow, both mentally and physically, and at 6 feet, 6 inches tall, he was an opposing figure on the mound. It was his stature, ability and confidence that made him tough to beat but it was his attitude, desire, and heart that made him impossible to beat.
Tragically, on March 18th, 2007 a car in which Jake was a passenger, plunged 70 feet from an Interstate 93 off ramp in Boston and caromed off a cement wall before coming to rest in the Boston Sand & Gravel yard. Jake was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 20 years old.
It is in his memory that this fund was created, thus enabling a youth from Central Little League to pursue their baseball passion.