Crighton Happy To Continue The Game He Loves At Indiana

ROCHESTER HILLS - Growth has played a big part in Luke Crighton’s improvement in baseball.

“I’ve really been working on getting stronger and bigger,” the Orchard Lake St. Mary’s freshman said. “Two years ago I was 5-4, maybe 5-5, and now I’m 6-2. I’ve gained a lot of weight from growth and I’m throwing it harder and hitting it harder since I’ve gotten a lot bigger.”

It has the top-rated 2026 shortstop in Michigan ready to compete on one of the top high school baseball programs in the country while also getting noticed by colleges such as Clemson and Xavier along with Indiana, where Crighton made a commitment prior to his 16th birthday on Dec. 20.

“They saw me play at Grand Park in Indiana and we talked a couple of times,” Crighton reflected about his connection with IU. “I went to a camp there around Halloween and I did well. The coaches there are amazing and they ended up offering me. A couple of weeks later I decided to go there.”

The fifth-ranked freshman in the state enjoyed his time at the university located in Bloomington, nearly five hours from his home in Michigan.

“The campus was awesome, it’s a good school and they have a good baseball program,” Crighton explained. “At the camp I loved the coaches.”

Indiana found Crighton to be a good fit for the program.

“They like that I’m athletic and have the ability to make contact with the ball,” Crighton noted. “In the future they saw me as a shortstop and maybe pitcher, but mainly shortstop.”

Crighton pointed to his older brother who is now playing at Clemson as being a big influence on him.

“With an older brother playing baseball at a high level, I’ve learned to love the game and want to play it for as long as I can,” Crighton said in reference to Jack, a standout on last year’s Orchard Lake St. Mary’s team that finished as the top-ranked high school squad in the country. “He’s always been another coach for me. He’s been like a training partner and has definitely helped me out a lot.”

His father, along with St. Mary’s head coach Matt Petry, who is a coach for Crighton’s summer team, also helped the cause in his baseball journey to the Big 10.

“My dad has always been there throwing the baseball to me,” Crighton related. “Coach Petery obviously has a good program. All the kids there are super nice and are always pushing you to get better.”

Crighton also benefited from another source.

“Playing in all those PBR tournaments really helped me a lot,” Crighton said. “I love playing at LakePoint.”

Following in his brother’s footsteps to Clemson was, admittedly, a consideration.

“I had a decision to make but I really like Indiana a lot so the decision was to go there,” pointed out Crighton, who grew up a Michigan fan and will now be playing in the same league as the Wolverines. “It should be fun playing against Michigan and Michigan State, I’ll probably know a bunch of the players.”

The plan now is to get bigger and stronger to be ready when the time comes to head off to Indiana.

“I’ll be a good teammate and do whatever I can to help the team win,” Crighton said. “I have good energy and will provide them with whatever I can do.”

Making the decision to commit as a freshman was not difficult according to the 6-2 155-pounder.

“I really just loved Indiana and the facilities and the coaches are great,” Crighton explained. “I just wanted to make it easier and do it now instead of waiting.”

It left Crighton excited about knowing where the future lies.

“Obviously it was a good time when I committed, my parents were really proud of me,” Crighton said. “Now I just have to keep working and getting better every day.”

Business is the planned major for Crighton, who carries a 4.17 GPA on a 4.0 scale at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.

“Making new friends, having fun and just getting a chance to keep playing baseball for as long as I can is what I’m looking forward to,” Crighton concluded.