Block out the dandelions and weed-filled grass, and the nearly flawless piece of St. Agnes baseball quickly comes into focus.
A 6-4, 205-pound figure trudges across the haggard practice field at West Minnehaha Recreation Center in St. Paul, headed to the makeshift bullpen on a natural hill in the outfield.
This is where Jack Fossand has been molded into one of the top pitchers in the state. He sports a state record that he could extend next month and a spot on Dartmouth College's pitching staff next year.
The senior righthander has dominated the Tri-Metro Conference and Class 1A in the past four years. He has won 20 career games with an ERA of 2.43. He followed up a junior season of seven wins and a 0.82 ERA with a 2-4 record and 2.18 ERA through the regular season of his senior year. The losing record has been affected by seventeen unearned runs, but he has struck out 33 and given up only 10 earned runs in 32 innings.
Fossand's most impressive feat, though, is his active streak of shutout innings pitched in state tournament play. Dating to his sophomore season, Fossand has three consecutive complete-game shutouts. The 21 consecutive scoreless innings are a best at any level of the Minnesota high school baseball tournament.
"I'm proud of it, but mostly I'm proud of my team being able to be behind me. Because you don't throw shutouts without defense behind you," Fossand said. "I get my name on the stat sheet, but my team has been a huge part of that."
The shutout streak is on track to be extended. St. Agnes, the No. 1 seed in the Section 4 playoffs, needs two more victories to earn Fossand his fourth start in the state tournament. The Aggies play Heritage Christian Academy on Tuesday at Midway Stadium, with Fossand scheduled to start. The winner advances to the section final Saturday.
Fossand knows he is not going to overwhelm hitters. His fastball averages 81 to 83 miles per hour and tops out at about 85. His offspeed pitches, however, are above average. Catcher Alex Kleve — and opponents — are convinced Fossand's best pitch is his changeup.