Champions find a way. True to the mantra of the Oakmont Spartan Baseball program, Jacob Downing has put words into practice.

Downing, an Oakmont baseball player, seemed to be born with a love for his sport. Following in his father’s and brother’s footsteps, Downing has been persevering and perfecting his craft since he was eight years old.

However, what sets him apart from his teammates and family is an immobilized right arm.

In 2016, during his fifth major heart surgery at just six years old, Jacob suffered a stroke that hit an artery and damaged the left hemisphere of his brain. In an instant, his life was changed. The right side of his body was permanently affected. Now, he was forced to relearn his movement without the use of his right arm.

Instead of allowing his setback to hinder his athletic performance and passion, Jacob embraced it, using it as motivation.

The next two years of Downing’s life were spent reprogramming his daily routine. With the help of his parents and doctors, he taught himself how to do everything using his left side.

Brotherly Motivation

Luckily, he had a unique role model right by his side: his older brother, Jayden Downing.

While helping to guide his team to the Division 3 Massachusetts State Title as a senior in 2023, Jayden left his own mark on Oakmont baseball history. As a remarkable left-handed pitcher, he served as the Spartans’ co-ace alongside teammate Caleb Allen throughout the team’s historic season.

Jacob credits his older brother’s success as a significant personal motivator growing up.

“I look up to him big time, because I saw he had a lot of potential growing up, and I felt like I had to be up there too,” Jacob said.

This motivation is exactly what inspired him to follow in his brother’s footsteps.

Some things happen for a reason, as Jayden wasn’t the only Downing on the field during the championship. The two brothers shared the special experience.

As his older brother dominated the mound, Jacob supported the team from behind the scenes as the Spartans’ honorary bat boy.

To the team, Jake not only served as a helpful hand but as a good-luck charm and a steady reminder that what they were facing was entirely achievable.

Varsity Baseball Coach Timothy Caouette said, “We all loved the idea that he [Jacob] could have that special moment with his brother Jayden, sharing the dugout at the State Championship, and fortunately getting to celebrate our win.”

The energy in Polar Park that day was electric. With a sea of Spartan green surrounding the players, fans watched each and every pitch of the dramatic comeback win.

“It was amazing, I was so nervous at the same time because I was in my very first state championship, so there’s bound to be a lot of nerves standing in that stadium,” Jake said. “It was pretty intense too, because you could see all the mistakes and successes up close on the field.”

As the agonizing 12 innings came to a close, and rain began to fall, the extra-inning battle was finally won. The long-awaited ending sent Jake and the rest of the dugout rushing to celebrate with each other. This was only the beginning of Downing’s relationship with Oakmont baseball.

VIP

Later that summer, in July of 2023, the Downings received news they could have never expected. Jacob was going to head right back to Worcester’s Polar Park to be honored in front of a crowd. He was invited to be the 2023 Home Run for Life honoree.

The Home Run for Life program has recognized children overcoming life-changing medical challenges since 2011. Through partnerships with minor league baseball teams such as the Oklahoma City Comets, Dayton Dragons, and Worcester Red Sox, the Home Run for Life program has honored hundreds of children in heartwarming ways.

In collaboration with UMass Memorial Health, the WooSox provide their honorees with a magical, up-close experience with the team.

As stated on the official WooSox Home Run for Life webpage, “The honoree gets VIP treatment, including WooSox souvenirs, a chance to meet and get autographs from WooSox players, and a tour of Polar Park.”

Preparation for an event of this importance takes months to plan. Jacob started filming his introduction video, to be displayed for the audience during the third inning break, in July.

When the day finally arrived, the Downings watched the game from a luxury VIP suite and waited patiently for their moment on the field. After the video was played, Jacob lapped the bases.

Jacob described this day as a “golden experience.”

After the game, Jacob became a celebrity among celebrities. “I will say, I got to meet Chris Sale and Trevor Story, that’s pretty awesome,” Jacob said.

Jacob celebrated his family during this magical moment. “It was also a great experience for my family too. My brother’s dream was to meet Chris Sale because they’re both lefties. That was crazy, it was a very awesome experience.”

Jake’s Turn

Now, it was Jake’s turn to take a swing at Oakmont baseball.

Last spring, Jake was chosen to play on Oakmont’s JV team as a second baseman. Throughout the season, his improvement was unmistakable. Those who have the opportunity to see Jake’s performance in person share similar reactions: amazement.

“Our players are used to Jacob playing during the games and practices,” said Oakmont Baseball Coach and teacher Lincoln Stiles, “but when we go to another field, and opposing players see Jacob for the first time, they are in awe of what he is able to do in the field…”

Jake’s fielding mechanics are remarkable.

As a second baseman, Jake fields ground balls and flips the ball into the air while simultaneously tossing his glove off and catching the ball in order to make the throw. Jake says he has mastered this movement to the point where he can accomplish all of this in three seconds.

Just as impressively, Jake succeeds at the plate. Jake tactfully grips the bat with his left hand and rests his right hand on the handle.

Not only does his infield on-the-diamond performance amaze audiences, but his attitude off the field is just as valuable to his teammates and coaches.

Growing up in a small community like Ashburnham-Westminster, many of the players on this team have played together for their whole lives. These players have bonded not only as teammates, but as brothers.

“I’ve been playing baseball with Jake since we were young, and watching his growth on and off the field has been amazing,” said sophomore teammate and friend Anthony Girgenti. “He brings the energy when we need it most, whether it’s making everyone laugh or shouting one of his pump-up lines to get us going.”

Now, Jake is headed into his second season as a Spartan, and the energy is as high as ever.

In the high-stakes environment created by competitive high school sports, it’s important to have people on the team who remind their teammates what makes the fight worthwhile.

For the Spartans, that person has always been Jake.

Coach Caouette shared that at the conclusion of the 2024 Oakmont baseball season, the team came together to discuss what success looked like for them moving forward. They felt that as a program, they had been starkly overlooked, “a flash in the pan.”

Caouette said, “At that meeting, we discussed what it means to be ‘a champion’. At that moment, our team and program mantra was born: ‘Champions find a way.’ Jake truly embodies our team’s motto every single day.”

This story was originally published on The Oakmonitor on March 31, 2026.