Luke Staley '22 Recruiting Profile

I knew I wanted to play baseball since the age of 5.  I had grown up up experiencing baseball with my family, and hearing tales of previous baseball seasons from my dad and uncle.  At five years old, when receiving my first pitch, my dad accidentally bloodied my nose. You would think this would make me feel bad, but after laughing about it, I became even more determined to play.  Since that time I have been fortunate to get to play tee ball, little league, fall ball, middle school ball, high school ball, and now I play summer travel ball. My coaches use me as a leader. I’ve learned this, sometimes the hard way,  must be my contribution. It’s my unofficial job to keep our team motivated and playing our best. I’ve gotten to pitch, play 2nd, shortstop, 3rd, and my favorite position, catcher. I have been voted Game Day MVP twice in my young baseball career.  Academically, I’m learning the role of leadership also. Over the 3 years of my middle school career, I’ve won many Academic Awards as well, such as Honor Roll, Beta, Social Studies and Presidential Awards.

Currently I am enrolled at iLead Academy where I plan to study Bio-med.  My future goals are to pursue a career in sports medicine, while playing baseball along the way.  The biggest obstacle I have to overcome in baseball, and in life, happened a few weeks ago. My best friend and close teammate died.  We were ready for baseball practice one afternoon and he developed a severe headache. His headache proved to be a brain aneurysm. I was with him until he passed away a couple of days later.  Baseball was the heart of our friendship. In many games I was the catcher to his pitching. I am still overcoming his passing. I think of him during every play. I am trying to play my best in honor of his memory.  In everything I do, both on and off the field, I hope to live my life as a Christian young man he would be proud of.