By: Patrick Martell
Staff Writer

TJ Jann is a senior this year, and is one of the best two sport athletes to come out of Westford Academy. However, it was his signing to Penn State to play Division 1 college baseball last month that has had people talking.

During the winter Jann can be seen racing up the court in the WA gym, poised to pick apart defenses. But his true passion is in the spring, where he can be seen outside on the mound, picking apart the strike zone.

Jann is a starting pitcher and third baseman on the Westford Academy baseball team, but it was his work when he was younger that really got him noticed.
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Jann began playing organized baseball in second grade in the Westford recreational league.

Some of his fondest memories from little league include his first homerun in fourth grade against Acton Boxboro and when his team won the championship in third grade.

He says his love of sports stems from his parents.

Throughout Jann’s life his dad has been his biggest influence and motivator. Sports have always been a big part of the Jann family.

Jann’s father played basketball at URI, and his sister Alyssa now plays basketball at Quinnipiac.

Stepping away from his family’s basketball roots, Jann said he chose baseball because, “my heart was in it and my potential in baseball gave me a better chance to perform at a higher level.

Jann says he first knew he wanted to play baseball at a higher level, “probably around 6th grade when I started playing AAU.”

He didn’t really start gaining attention until his sophomore year.

He believes that attending showcases and his participation in the AAU World Series in Florida are what really got him noticed, and “on the board” with coaches and top baseball scouting site Perfect Game.

Jann stated that colleges started contacting him, “by both mail and email consistently at the end of my sophomore year.”
Interest in Jann could also be seen at his games last spring.

Scouts from schools such as Boston College, St. Johns, and Tufts could be seen behind the backstop, crouched with their radar guns and notebooks.

It was Tufts who was there to witness his amazing performance against Lincoln Sudbury, his best memory from high school baseball.

“That was an awesome feeling, especially pitching in the game, starting, to walk off that field with a win. To take the 45 minute bus ride home with a win is much better than to take it with a loss,” said Jann.

Jann received offers from many other schools also before finally deciding on Penn State. Some of the other colleges included George Mason, Coastal Carolina, Notre Dame, William and Mary, UMiami, and more.

There were many deciding factors in Jann’s choice of Penn State.

“Penn State has a great reputation, a beautiful campus and sports facilities, and great relaxed coaches with a lot of experience as professional players. They also want me to play the corner infield and pitch, which was the most important factor in my decision,” Jann said.

Although a significant role in the team is not guaranteed, it is very likely.

Penn State is a school where it is stressed that the best nine players are on the field and everyone has to work for their spot.

When asked if he was excited to play in college Jann said, “Absolutely, but my goal is still to make it to the next level. College will be a lot of fun and the team should be really good.”