STARKVILLE — Luke Templeton always has dreamed about playing baseball in college.
On Wednesday, the Starkville Academy pitcher made that dream a reality when he signed a National Letter of Intent with East Mississippi Community College. Templeton and Starkville Academy will open their season Feb. 16 against Lamar School at Meridian C.C.
“I’ve been hurt recently, and just to be able to get back from that injury and play college baseball is a really good feeling,” Templeton said.
Templeton tore a calf muscle last year and missed a good deal of his junior season. He strained a ligament in his arm during the summer, but he didn’t have to have surgery, and went through rehabilitation to get his arm back in shape.
Starkville Academy first-year coach Jarrod Parks, who was an assistant at EMCC the past two seasons, was one of the first college coaches to recruit the left-handed Templeton. When Parks was hired last summer to lead Starkville Academy, he didn’t immediately push Templeton to EMCC.
Templeton, who also had interest from East Central C.C., Meridian C.C., Hinds C.C., and Northeast Mississippi C.C., said Parks told him to choose the program that felt like the best fit. He said he felt like he was meant to be at EMCC.
“It was the coaching staff,” Templeton said. “I really like the pitching coach. It’s close to home and I kind of like that about it as well. I guess it just felt like a perfect fit.”
Chris Rose is the head baseball coach at EMCC. Anthony Izzio, who pitched for two seasons at South Alabama, is the pitching coach.
Starkville Academy assistant coach Brooks Roberts said Templeton will battle with classmates Caleb Griffin and Hunter Tranum for the distinction of being the “ace” on the pitching staff, but he said Templeton has a good chance of assuming that responsibility. Parks said Templeton has “ace-like stuff.”
Templeton believes EMCC will be a stepping stone for what he hopes will be a long baseball career. Parks, who went to Mississippi State after playing two seasons at Meridian C.C., sees this as a great opportunity for Templeton to work on his game and to get in a position to play well after junior college.
“He’s got big upside because in my eyes he’s still got that little baby face,” Parks said. “I think there’s still some growing in there, some maturing. He’ll get stronger as he gets older. I feel like you’re on that tipping point when you have the baby face. You can either just fall off the map and not do anything with your talents or you can get to where you can make that next big jump, just like you did when you were about 14 or 15. He’s still got that left in him.”
Parks has seen Templeton pitch one inning in a game. Most of what he has seen from Templeton has been in the bullpen. He said Templeton’s can throw a fastball at 80-84 mph. He said he tops out at 85. Parks said Templeton will have more time in the weight room and more time to long toss at EMCC, which should push his velocity to the high 80s.
Templeton also features a changeup and a breaking ball, which Parks describes as a slurve.
“His arm really works,” Parks said. “There’s not a hitch in his arm or anything, it’s all really fluid. As long as he is with guys that perfect practicing baseball and playing baseball, he’ll be fine.”
Due to the injury last season, Templeton only appeared in 10 games (15 1/3 innings). He went 1-1 with a 2.29 ERA and two saves. He allowed six hits and six walks and struck out 22. He threw a perfect five-inning game against Pillow Academy. He struck out eight in the 67-pitch effort.
Roberts, who coached him last year, believes pitching often will the best thing for Templeton.
“He’ll get to pitch every third, fourth game, and that will help him reach his ability,” Roberts said. “I think he can go as far as he wants to.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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