SF. JOSEPH — Luke Landrus was the quintessential new man when he moved to St. Joseph earlier than his sophomore yr.
Certain, he knew a few of his new teammates had competed towards them rising up, however he'd by no means lived exterior of Charleston. And leaving Charleston was arduous. His buddies have been there. There he had already begun to show himself as a freshman starter on a Trojans workforce that received 26 video games and reached a Class 3A super-sectional.
On departure from Charleston to St. Joseph, Landrus felt he needed to show himself once more.
“I used to be form of quiet simply shifting in,” Landrus stated. “Again then, I needed to show how I play and who I’m. That occurs to everybody whenever you meet new folks and be part of a brand new workforce. You are feeling like I’ve to show you. Generally it's good and generally it's unhealthy – some folks take it the mistaken approach – however I positively felt that once I obtained right here.”
The chance to show himself got here instantly for St. Joseph-Ogden. Landrus was a younger starter as a sophomore on a veteran workforce with critical expectations after profitable 33 video games and enjoying in a Class 2A super-sectional.
However that group embraced Landrus. Seniors like Tyler Altenbaumer, Hayden Brazelton and Andrew Beyers launched him to SJ-O baseball. He welcomed him with open arms.
One thing Landrus returned to nature final season. Now, he was the veteran of a youthful Spartans workforce that commonly performed 5 sophomores. All whereas thriving as a two-way participant with a senior season resume greater than ok to be named the 2024 Information-Gazette All-Space Baseball Participant of the Yr.
“He's aggressive,” SJ-O coach Josh Haley stated. “He needs to win. We have now expectations right here and he needed to be part of that. … He has a lot versatility. Not many guys get to play shortstop one season, catch most of a junior season, after which be requested to pitch and play second base your senior season, realizing you're being drafted as a catcher on the subsequent degree.
“I feel that additionally marks why he will probably be profitable on the subsequent degree. When you possibly can play a number of positions to, one, assist a workforce win, two, be a great teammate and, three, pay attention to what's required of you, I feel that marks the mark of an awesome participant.”
“Couldn't ask for extra”
Landrus performed his freshman yr at Charleston for his father. That 26-10 season, which included the Trojans' first sectional championship since 1960, additionally marked the top of Derrick Landrus' 16 seasons as Charleston's coach.
The Landrus household selected to maneuver to St. Joseph – that summer time, good teachers and good baseball, second, a figuring out issue. It was a serious transfer. Derrick Landrus grew up in Charleston, performed for the Trojans and went on to a profitable basketball profession at Jap Illinois as a three-year starter for Rick Samuels. His spouse, Dr. Vanesa Landrus, earned a bachelor's diploma at EIU and stays a college member on campus whereas serving as coordinator of Latin American and Latinx research.
Leaving Charleston was a critical determination. One Derrick and Vanessa did with their son in thoughts.
“I selected St. Joe due to the excessive degree of teachers and sports activities,” Vanesa stated. “I knew she can be a great match.”
“I didn't actually know anybody right here,” Derrick added. “I knew coach Haley from teaching towards him somewhat bit. We simply needed to get him into a great college within the first place and athletics agreed with that. They accepted it from the beginning, which could be tough. It was an awesome expertise and I couldn't have requested for extra.”
The truth that Luke was instantly accepted at his new college and workforce gave his dad and mom peace of thoughts after the transfer. Success on the baseball subject adopted, with Derrick now not enjoying the twin function of coach/father.
“It was good, really, to have the ability to loosen up somewhat bit and watch it,” Derrick stated. “However it was enjoyable teaching him, too.”
Not that some changes weren't wanted. From either side. Even when the postgame conversations between father and son had that outdated, acquainted coach-player vibe.
“It was form of bizarre seeing him within the stands and never on the sphere, for positive,” Luke stated. “It form of took somewhat strain off of me not being the coach's son. I might go on the market and play and play and never have to fret about different issues.”
“It modified everybody's mindset”
Haley accomplished three years with Luke on her roster, utilizing him in virtually each approach doable. In 2022, a brief break was wanted, so he turned to the newcomer from Charleston. Final season, Luke was in a position to play his favourite place. Accidents this spring to a trio of pitchers meant he was on the mound greater than he had within the earlier two seasons mixed for the Spartans.
In order that meant a senior yr the place Luke pitched as soon as every week, caught just a few video games over the course of the season — however by no means the day earlier than or the day after he pitched — and in any other case performed second base.
The outcomes principally converse for themselves. SJ-O posted a 32-5 report, received one other Class 2A regional — its 10th since Haley took over in 2011-12 — and did it with Luke enjoying on the plate (and behind them) and on the mound. He hit .478 whereas putting out simply seven instances all season, stole 25 bases and drove in 43 runs, all whereas going Eight-1 with a 1.69 ERA and 60 strikeouts- out in simply 37 1/three innings.
Whereas Haley stated he has no intention of utilizing Luke as a pitcher this season, the Illinois senior was greater than prepared.
“I knew pitching would assist the workforce, so I used to be 100 % prepared to do it,” Luke stated. “I did fairly effectively. I feel the pitching informed the entire workforce that I used to be in it for all the pieces. It modified everybody's mindset somewhat bit that we're going to do effectively this yr.”
Enjoying a mess of positions over the previous three seasons — and just one full season at his most popular place — hasn't modified Luke's method, nonetheless. He merely relied on his expertise of enjoying principally shortstop or pitching earlier than shifting to full-time catcher the summer time earlier than his freshman yr in Charleston.
“It was extra about going on the market and having enjoyable,” Luke stated. “ you've been doing it for some time. Hold calm and it doesn’t matter what place you play, it's a baseball recreation. Then attempt your finest to win and have enjoyable along with your mates. I feel whenever you do this it makes all the pieces loads simpler.”
“He grew as a pacesetter”
Positional versatility got here simply for Luke. The lead didn't all the time, however he stated he realized from the seniors he performed with as a sophomore and fellow SJ-O Braxton Waller tips on how to fill that function. The truth that he's gotten extra comfy and assured over the previous three years has additionally helped.
“I feel he's grown as a pacesetter,” Vanesa stated. “He's extra vocal now. He was fairly quiet. I'm glad to see him develop this manner. He's all the time been a workforce participant — doing what he must do for the workforce — and I feel he needs to do the identical at Illinois.”
Haley stated that Luke and Waller have functioned as SJ-O's good cop/unhealthy cop pairing at instances this season. Waller was the vitality man. Luke stored the workforce in examine within the dugout with common reminders to behave themselves and assist their teammates.
“He was with them — not simply to right them, however to assist them,” Haley stated. “When the workforce went to the Dairy Barn, he's with them. Once they go to Elevating Cane's or no matter they usually're bored, he's with them. You would have gone via a workforce the place there might have been a separation out of your leaders, from the seniors, down, but it surely was by no means that. I feel that's an enormous motive why we've been profitable.”
And Luke is fast to credit score his fellow senior SJ-O along with his personal development as a pacesetter. Discovering his voice to assist lead the workforce was partly Waller's affect.
“He's among the best guys I've ever been on the baseball subject with,” Luke stated. “He's only a tremendous vocal man. He’ll say what’s on his thoughts. He doesn't care if he would possibly damage your emotions somewhat, however he is aware of it would make you higher. He’ll do no matter it takes to make the workforce higher. I noticed that and I stated, “Yeah, that's what's wanted.”