Jake was a smooth middle infielder for Forest Park Community College, where he earned first team All-America honors and was also named national Defensive Player of the Year. In 2012 and 2013, he played for St. Louis University. Jake was also a major star in the Mon-Clair League for nearly two decades with the Waterloo Buds and Fairview Heights Redbirds between 2003 and 2020. In 2024, he was named to the Mon-Clair League Baseball Hall of Fame. During his time, he was on teams that won six Mon-Clair League championships and five Valmeyer Fourth of July tournaments. An eight-time Mon-Clair League All-Star, Friederich won numerous awards during that span and has also served as coach in the league for many years. In 2002, Friederich played second base and shortstop for the Wellsville Nitros in the New York Collegiate Baseball League and earned Playoff MVP, All-Star and Gold Glove honors. In the late 1990s, Jake played for Althoff Catholic High School and the Belleville American Legion team. In 2012, he was inducted into the Belleville Hilgard American Legion Post 58 Hall of Fame.