Jake Boyle is arguably the greatest baseball player to ever grace the Penn State Behrend diamond. The five-tool player rewrote the record books while setting the bar for generations of players to come. 

Boyle was an iron man, playing in a school-record 160 games over four years. He accomplished a feat only four players in the history of the AMCC have done by earning Player of the Year honors twice. 

During his first season with Behrend, Boyle made an immediate impact while helping the program set a school record with 26 wins. He led the team in hits (61), runs (49), home runs (9), RBIs (49), and batting average (.430). Boyle was tabbed the AMCC Newcomer of the Year, First-Team All-AMCC, Team MVP, and Team Rookie of the Year. His totals for at-bats, runs, hits, home runs, and RBIs were all single-season bests. 

Boyle entered his second season as one of the most feared hitters in the conference. Once again, he led the team in hits (51), runs (42), home runs (11), RBIs (48), and hitting (.398). Boyle also smacked a team-best eight triples. He earned First-Team All-AMCC accolades for a second straight season and was named to the Mid-Atlantic All-Region team. Boyle received a spot on the Dodge Truck All-American Farm Team as well.

After just two seasons, Boyle was considered one of the best to ever sport a Lions’ uniform. He was already the career-leader in the Triple Crown categories of batting average, home runs, and runs batted in. 

Sadly, in the fall of his junior year, Boyle was struck with something far worse than a hit by pitch. After suffering a concussion in intramural football, Boyle’s MRI results showed he had a Grade II astrocystoma. With the tumor being asymptomatic, Boyle decided to wait on surgery and play his junior season. 

Despite all he had been through off the field, the diamond was his sanctuary. Even with just five home games in 2001, Boyle’s outstanding ability only improved. He led the team with 50 hits, 48 runs, 43 RBIs, eight home runs, and a .400 batting average. He was named AMCC Player of the Year, First-Team All-AMCC, and team MVP. 

After playing for the Eastern Tides of the NECBL, a top-notch collegiate league, in the summer of 2001, it was time for Boyle to focus on surgery. In mid-August of that year, Boyle underwent a 12-hour procedure to remove the brain tumor. Just two days after surgery, Boyle was back at home. Eight days later, he was back in class. By the spring of his senior year, Boyle was cleared to play ball again. 

For three years, opposing pitchers would cringe at the sight of Boyle stepping to the dish. Now, with brain surgery added to the mix, what could really be expected of him? The answer was simple: the same great results. Boyle led the team to a new school record of 35 wins and an ECAC Championship. He set career-highs with 62 hits, 59 runs, 13 doubles, and 25 stolen bases. For the second straight year, he earned AMCC Player of the Year and First-Team All-AMCC accolades. Boyle became the second student-athlete to be awarded the Penn State Behrend Athlete of the Year and Scholar Athlete of the Year honors. 

At the time of his graduation, Boyle was the career leader in batting average (.407), hits (224), triples (17), at-bats (551), and games played (160). He still owns the top spot for home runs (35), runs batted in (188), and runs scored (198). 

Devastatingly five years later, the cancer returned and Boyle lost his battle. Even though he had been through so much in just 26 years of life, Boyle never questioned it.

"Somebody once asked if I ever wonder why such a terrible thing would happen to me," Boyle said. "The answer is no…I am surrounded by family and friends that provide me with more support than I could ever ask for."