Former Coaches, RedHawks Remember Local Baseball Player Jake Laber

Jake Laber’s death is one of those that you see and you stop what you’re doing and immediately reflect on your life.

Laber is gone at the age of 30, far too young for anyone, but criminally young for someone who gave so much to this community.

Those who were around Laber agree; he will be dearly missed.

“This is a guy who was vibrant, a guy who was strong. You wouldn’t think that something bad would happen to. And I don’t know, just sad day,” said RedHawks Manager, Doug Simunic.

Jake Laber came to the RedHawks in the 2008 season, fresh off a career starring at Fargo North, then NDSU.

“Well, I remember he was a guy you wanted the ball,” said Laber’s NDSU coach Tod Brown.  Brown coached Laber his senior season. “And especially in a big game. He was our Friday night starter, our best pitcher. Somebody that we could rely on every five days to run out and he’d give us a great chance to win.”

But initially, Laber’s tenure was short, after the club moved him to the Frontier league.

“I didn’t have a lot of room or innings to give him cause it was near the end of the season,” explained Simunic. “So I got him back, and he started rolling from there.”

And once he was back, it was all success, both on and off the field.

“He represented our organization well, he represented his family very well. He was an example for a lot of teammates and a lot of our staff. Just an all-around good guy,” said RedHawk’s General Manger Josh Buchholz.

Laber set the RedHawks’ record for career wins.

Yet for someone with those decorations, the compliments are just as strong to the person as the player.

“You know, just a guy that a lot would rub off him and rub onto other players. He just became that type of teammate,” said Simunic.

“What a great teammate he was,” adds Brown. “He was one of those guys you want your kids to be friends with.”

More tough news on Laber.

He was set to get married this Friday.

We wish his family and friends all the best.