Senior (2016):
Yakel was Pacific''s everyday catcher in his senior year as he started 47 games behind the dish. Three times Yakel matched his career high in single-game RBI with three: Against San Jose State on March 1, against BYU on March 19, and against San Francisco on March 26. Yakel was third in the WCC in runners caught stealing with 22. His 44 career runners caught stealing is fifth in Pacific history. Yakel drove in 17 runs on the year thanks in part to his six doubles and first triple since 2014.
Junior (2015):
Playing multiple positions throughout the year, Yakel saw action in 40 games while starting 32 contests at C, 3B, and 1B. For the season, Yakel batted .218 with 26 hits including seven extra-base knocks. He hit his first collegiate home run at Saint Mary''s on Mar. 13 in Pacific''s 6-5 loss to the Gaels. Overall, Yakel produced three multi-hit games on the year including a 3-for-5 effort at Nevada on Mar. 1 in which he drove in two RBI with a pair of doubles and scored two runs against the Wolf Pack.
Sophomore (2014):
Yakel took over the Tigers'' starting catcher job half way through the year as he was Pacific''s backstop for the majority of WCC play. As a sophomore, J.P. hit .272 with 37 hits including 11 extra-base knocks that helped account for his 19 RBI an 22 runs scored. In total, Yakel played in 41 games including 39 starts while starting all 27 games for the Tigers in conference play. Against conference foes, Yakel batted .281 and drove in 14 RBI on 27 hits. He finished with seven multi-hit efforts including a 3-for-5 day at San Francisco on April 13. He drove in a career-best three RBI on Mar. 30 against Santa Clara at Klein Family Field.
Freshman (2013):
Saw action in 13 contests while also earning four starts. In 17 at bats he recorded five hits to post a .294 average. He finished with one double while also recording one RBI and two runs scored. He posted his first collegiate hit against Cal State Fullerton on Mar. 29 and scored his first run against Fresno State on April 2. In a start against Cal State Northridge (April 28), Yakel went 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
High School:
Yakel hit .330 with a .449 on-base percentage and 27 runs scored as a senior at Lakewood. The catcher and infielder posted six extra-base hits and a 11 runs batted in in 2011-12. Helped coach Spud O''Neil''s Lancers to a 25-7 season as a senior and regular season Moore League titles as a sophomore and junior.
Personal
John Patrick Yakel ... Son of John and Beth Yakel… Has older sister Katie, who also graduated from Pacific on 2015 … Majoring in Sport Science.
