American Family Insurance ALL-USA Player of the Year, Luken Baker (Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle)
MORE: American Family Insurance ALL-USA Baseball Team
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Name: Luken Baker
Position: Pitcher/infield
School: Oak Ridge (Conroe, Texas)
Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 250.
Bats/throws: Right/right
College/MLB draft: Texas Christian
Key stats: Was 12-1 with 120 strikeouts and an 1.02 ERA through 82 innings pitched. He hit .468 with eight homers and was walked 33 times.
Season highlight: During one of our district games, we were down 4-1 going into the bottom of the seventh against College Park. We came back and won it and have been on a roll since.
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Larissa Cox for English. She’s helped me improve, not just in my schooling, but with my interactions with other people. She has been real supportive, almost like a second mother.
My reality TV competition: Top Chef because I can bake a little, especially for desserts.
Mistake I’ve learned from: There was one week where we prepared really well and did well in the game. The next week, I was dwelling on the last performance and didn’t work as hard as I should have and we came out and when I got the ball, nothing good was going right.
Cartoon character I like: Peter Griffin from Family Guy.
Put the first bat and glove in my hand: My dad. When I was 4 or 5, he put me on the baseball and taught me how to play. He played in high school. But baseball wasn’t my only sport. I started out playing soccer and did some swimming.
The last time I forgot how many outs there were: Was the third round of the playoffs. I struck a kid out and started walking off the field with two outs.
My inspiration: I’d have to say my dad. He’s inspired not to just work hard but to be the person I’ve strived to be.
My clutch moment: Last year in the first round of the playoffs, in the first game. We were a four seed playing a one seed and I threw one of my best games, with 15 strikeouts in seven innings and I went 2-for-3 at the plate with a homer and we won 4-0.
Hidden talent: I’ve gotten pretty good at lassoing things.
If I had a time machine: I would probably go forward in time to see the first time the Astros win the World Series.