Grain Valley Hometown Hero Misiowski Takes Milwaukee to Series Title

Jacob Misiorowski, a 24-year-old pitcher from Grain Valley, Missouri, threw a 103 mile per hour pitch in Game 1 of the World Series as the Milwaukee Brewers won their first championship in team history. The performance set a record for the fastest pitch in the history of the championship series.

Misiorowski grew up in the Missouri community 500 miles from Milwaukee. Brian Driskell, who coached Misiorowski at Grain Valley High School, recalled his first days on the team. "He came in as a 14 year old kid that was 125 pounds," Driskell said, adding that the team nicknamed him "Miz." Driskell said Misiorowski reached speeds of 93 to 97 miles per hour during his junior season of high school, calling him "the most dominant pitcher we've seen in high school."

The young pitcher's success is being watched closely by local families. Brad Harper and his 7-year-old son Brecken followed the games closely. "You can almost see the dream getting a little bigger in his eyes," Harper wrote in a Facebook post after the win. Brecken Harper offered his own reaction to the championship: "Crazy."

Misiorowski expressed his feelings after the victory. "I can't, you know there's no words to describe it. It's a, it's just joy," Misiorowski said. Driskell noted the reaction in town, saying, "It's kind of been a pinch yourself moment for our staff and for our school and teachers and everybody that's known him for sure."

The Brewers secured the World Series title this week. Driskell said Misiorowski has been able to represent their community and their school well. The Milwaukee organization has not announced its schedule for the start of the next season.