Competitive Scoles Has Been Influenced By Older Brother

Luke Scoles RHP / OF / Gull Lake, MI / 2020

RICHLAND - Growing up with an older brother has proven beneficial in more ways than one for Luke Scoles.

“I caught my brother a lot,” Scoles said about Caleb, now a junior pitcher on the University of Toledo baseball team. “He’s had some very good training and listening to the trainers and the help he’s gotten has really helped me as a pitcher. Catching also helped me know what gets batters out and what’s effective in certain counts.”

Now the Gull Lake junior is hoping to get to the next level just like his older sibling.

“My brother and I are both driven guys,” noted Scoles, who pointed to a grandfather who played football at Central Michigan as a big influence with both. “We love football and grew up wanting to do it from a young age.

“Since I was 13 or 14 it’s been a passion for me. I’ve wanted to follow in the footsteps of my brother. We’re best friends and he’s helped me out a lot.”
It also brought about a trait that colleges see in Scoles on the ballfield.

“We’re both really competitive,” Scoles said. “Whether it was basketball in the back yard or volleyball or tennis, we’re super competitive. We like to win. Our mom likes to win. It’s just a competitive family.”

Visits have taken place to a variety of schools interested in the 6-3 195-pound right-handed pitcher, with Big 10, Mid-American Conference, Horizon, SEC and Patriot League colleges under consideration. “They like that I’m projectable, that I’m a hard worker and that I’m super competitive. I’ll do anything to get outs.”

Exposure has come at a number of events highlighted by the Future Games in August.

“A lot of the interest came after the Future Games,” pointed out the 23rd-rated 2020 in Michigan. “The exposure was awesome, there’s nothing like the Future Games with 200-plus coaches there. I liked seeing all the coaches there and I loved the pressure that went with it. It makes me want to compete.”

The fourth-ranked unsigned junior in the state also found it to be a learning experience.