BCSs Luke leading until seasons end

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, April 18, 2006

When the Briarwood Christian Lions baseball team was eliminated from playoff contention on April 11, senior standout Grant Luke started playing even harder.

Luke has led the Lions in nearly every category this season. He has a batting average of .464 and 52 hits.

Tag on 41 stolen bases and Luke emerges as one of Shelby County&8217;s top players this season.

&8220;He&8217;s good for at least one run in every game,&8221; Briarwood head coach Lee Hall said. &8220;That gives the rest of our team a lot of confidence.&8221;

Luke said he prides himself in his speed.

&8220;I like running and chasing down balls,&8221; he said. &8220;God has gifted me with the ability of speed.&8221;

Luke, who started this season on the Lions&8217; varsity football squad as a wide receiver, credits his football workouts for helping him build his fast twitch abilities.

Hall said that Luke&8217;s hidden talent is in his fielding.

&8220;He has made plays in the outfield that most college players couldn&8217;t get to,&8221; Hall said. &8220;He&8217;s won more games playing defense for us than he could ever do at the plate.&8221;

As a senior, Luke said that the Lions being eliminated from the playoffs made him realize how few games he had left at Briarwood.

&8220;I&8217;m hoping to end the season on a strong note,&8221; Luke said.

One milestone that the Lions were able to accomplish this season was earning 20 wins for a second straight year – a first for any Briarwood squad.

After the Lions play they&8217;re final game on Saturday, Luke will turn to graduation and deciding on a college to attend. He said he hopes he gets to chance to play on the diamond at the next level.

&8220;I&8217;m definitely hoping to sign somewhere,&8221; he said. &8220;But that&8217;s still up in the air.

Regardless of how the Lions finish out their season, Luke said he hopes the seniors on the team will leave up-and-coming Briarwood players with a good impression.

&8220;We want to leave these guys with a good impression of what Briarwood baseball is all about,&8221; he said