Luke Schmitt won’t be forgetting 2024 any time soon.
The right-hander helped the Red Deer CarStar Braves overcome tremendous odds to capture the Baseball Alberta Elite League championship in July.
They then went on a roll to win the Baseball Canada 18U National Championship in Newfoundland.
Schmitt was a dynamo on the mound for the Braves, going 5-1 with a 1.29 ERA during the season, allowing just 10 earned runs in 54+ innings of work and contributing at the plate as well.
While he isn’t an imposing figure at 5-foot-9 and 156 pounds, the 18-year-old earned the Baseball Alberta Elite League Player of the Year award.
The St. Joseph Ball Academy Falcons hurler also caught the attention of college scouts, landing a commitment with the Butler Community College Grizzlies, where he’s looking to study business management.
We chatted with him on Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast before the new year, leading to our latest installment of 1 Thru 9.
1. What was it about Butler that made you think that was the school you wanted to go to?
We went on a trip with St. Joe’s to Kansas and toured about six schools. We went to Butler, the vibes were awesome, we did a big team workout. The coaches said they love the way I pitch and how I’m a pitcher and not just a thrower. I can locate my off-speed, so the coaches really resonated with me. I thought the town was beautiful, the park was awesome and it just spoke to me.
2. What excites you most about heading down there next fall?
I’m excited for the American baseball experience. I know this is not an opportunity a lot of people get. I’m also just excited to go down to the States and play ball at a really high level. The conference is awesome and I have a lot of friends who are in the conference as well, so it’ll be a lot fun playing against them.
3. Looking back on the past year, what was it like winning the provincial championship?
It was unbelievable. It was a really hard path to the finals. Losing to the Calgary Cubs was quite a shock for us. Then it was pretty much a must-win against Parkland and then we also lost that. We kind of thought it was over there but we got the grace of a nice tie-breaker and then played three great games on Sunday, battled hard all the way. We were down a lot of the time, too, but I think we battled really hard. Winning three games in one day is always awesome, especially when it’s provincials. We left it all out there.
4. And how about that national championship?
Looking back on it, I realize I’m never going to get that chance again. It was something so special. Not many people, period, get to do that, even go to nationals, let alone win the whole thing. It was so special and something I will never forget. It was probably one of the best weekends of my life, to be honest with you.
5. What went through your mind when you were named the BAEL Player of the Year?
You know what … just all the hard work and all the people who put their time in for me. I wouldn’t be here without a tonne of people working hard for me. I’m just so grateful for the opportunity to receive that award.
6. What was the key to your success all season?
I think my key to success was really getting up in counts. I’m not an over-powering pitcher in terms of velocity. But I can locate my off-speed and once I got up in counts, I found it was much easier to get hitters out. I think that was my key to success this year.
7. Take us into your mindset when you’re on the mound and how you are able to keep hitters at bay, considering you aren’t a big physical guy?
Basically, when I pitch, what you have to be is a good pitcher is you need to get in the minds of the hitter and basically do the opposite of it. Let’s say I’m in a 2-0 count, the hitter is expecting fastball, if it’s a left-handed hitter, maybe flip a curve in there when they’re not expecting it at all. It’s such a great tool to be able to locate your off-speed because you can get into the mind of the hitter, do the opposite of what they’re thinking and then it’s really hard to hit for them.
8. What has the St. Joe’s experience meant to you in your development as a ball player and as a human being?
It’s meant so much. Without St. Joe’s, I think it was one of the most important decisions of my life to go there and commit to ball full time. The coaches there have been absolutely amazing, shout-out Riley Barrett. He’s my pitching coach and all the guys love him there. He’s done so much for me. I think without Joe’s, I wouldn’t be where I am today. 100 per cent.
9. Do you have any advice or words of wisdom for those young kids starting out on their baseball journeys and wanting to get to where you’re at now?
You just have to stick with it, even in the toughest times. The most important thing in baseball is the mental game, so work on your mental game as much as possible and be a bulldog on the field.
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