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JUNIOR (2004) Kovács closed out his second season at Pacific with a .296 average as he finished in a tie for the team lead with 61 hits. Following the season, Jesse was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 31st round. Kovács was the lone Tiger to start all 54 games last season, scoring 28 runs and knocking in 27 RBI. In the Tigers' three game series with Cal Poly from Apr. 16th-18th, Kovács was 4-for-10 (.400) with three RBI and two runs scored against the Mustangs. He also made his first appearance on the mound for the Tigers as Kovács tossed 1.1 innings of scoreless relief in the Tigers' 16-6 loss to Cal Poly on April 17th. Kovács paced the Tigers offense by going 3-for-5 with an RBI sac fly and RBI single in Pacific's 12-5 game one win over Dallas Baptist on April 1st. Jesse was 3-for-3 in the Tigers' 5-4 loss to Sacramento State on Mar. 27th. Kovács helped the Tigers score 11 runs in a slugfest with Nevada on Mar. 23rd as he finished the game 3-for-6 with a run scored and two RBI. Despite Jesse's performance, the Tigers fell 12-11 in 11 innings. Jesse's best game of the season was in the Tigers' 11-10 win over Utah on Mar. 14th as Kovács went 2-for-4 with a run scored and four RBI, including a bases-loaded clearing double in the second inning. Jesse was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI in the Tigers' 7-0 win over UCLA on Feb 21st. Jesse had an excellent showing at the Oakland A's Spring Training Tournament (Feb. 12th-15th), going 5-for-11 with six runs scored, six RBI, two doubles and a triple in Pacific's three wins. SOPHOMORE (2003) The Tigers' starting shortstop in 2003, Kovács saw action in 53 of 54 games. He finished the year with a .276 average and led the Tigers with 140 defensive assists, placing him sixth in the Big West Conference. Jesse also finished second on the Tigers and in the Big West with 37 walks in 2003. Kovács was 3-for-4 with two walks and one run scored in the Tigers' 10-8 loss to Dartmouth on Thursday, Mar. 20th. Against the Tigers' toughest non-conference opponents, Kovács was a combined 7-for-15 (.467) as the Tigers went 1-3 versus UCLA and Minnesota (March 11th -16th.). Jesse figured prominently in the Tigers' 5-4 win over Santa Clara on March 4th as he was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Kovács had his first break out game as a Tiger in Pacific's 9-6 loss to Portland on Feb. 16th as he was 2-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored, including his first home run. In his first series as a Tiger, Kovács hit .417 (5-for-12), collecting five singles and one walk to help the Tigers take two of three from Nevada (Jan. 31-Feb. 2nd). JUNIOR COLLEGE Jesse transferred to Pacific from Cowley County JC in Arkansas City, Kan. in 2002. In his last season as a Cowley County Tiger, Kovács hit .350 with seven home runs and 41 walks, while also going a perfect 5-0 on the mound. Off the field, Jesse maintained scholastic excellence and was named to the 2002 Dean's List. HIGH SCHOOL Jesse graduated from Carmel High School in Carmel, Calif. in 2000. As a Padre, Kovács excelled in both basketball, in which he lettered three times, and baseball, in which he lettered in all four of his seasons. In 1999 and 2000, Kovács was named the Mission Trail Athletic League MVP and to the California All-State Team. As a senior, Jesse was named the Monterey County Herald Athlete of the Year. PERSONAL Jesse Kovács was born on November 11, 1981 and is the son of Joseph and Bette Kovács. In his third year with Pacific, Jesse is majoring in communication. |
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