Demasse Ready For 'The Grind' At Ball State

Luke Demasse RHP / 1B / Dakota, MI / 2025

MACOMB - This past year is when college baseball became a reality for Luke Demasse.

“I’d always thought about it when I was younger,” the Dakota Macomb junior related. “But last year I went from 75 to 86 and gained 30 pounds. That’s when I knew I wanted to do this. I did a six-month program with Prime Time Velocity and gained weight and a ton of fastball velo. That sparked interest in me.”

Now 6-2 and 170 pounds, the 19th-rated 2025 right-handed pitcher in the state pointed to “a good summer” with the Metro Stars, going 8-0 with only three walks in helping bring attention to his abilities.

“I posted my outings on Twitter and Ball State saw them and invited me to a camp in August,” Demasse reflected. “I went and did pretty good. I loved the coaches, met the players and loved the field. I could tell it might be the place for me.

“I kept in touch with the pitching coach and a month after they wanted to schedule a visit, but I couldn’t go until January. I gave them updates with how I was doing and also did that with the others.”

Oakland and Cincinnati were schools also being considered by Demasse, who additionally went to camps at Kent State, Michigan State and Central Michigan.

“Ball State always consistently reached out to me,” the 16-year-old noted. “I think that showed how much they liked me.”

Once on the visit, Demasse found what he was in search of in a college.

“Ball State was never the dream school for me until I stepped on campus,” Demasse explained. “I’m big on development. I think I’m projectable and they like guys like that. They gave me an offer and it was a no-brainer. I loved the coaches, the field and the program. I waited two or three days and decided this was where I wanted to go.”

Ball State projects a big future out of the 41st-ranked junior in Michigan.

“They see my 6-2 170-pound frame and being up to 89-90,” Demasse said. “They said they can get me up to 95. Once I fill out my frame they see big things in me.”

Admittedly, the recruiting process did not always go smoothly.

“I always liked to hit a new PR and then post it on Twitter and see if coaches reached out,” Demasse noted. “I had no idea where I wanted to go to school. I wanted a place to develop and where coaches had confidence in me and that’s what Ball State had.”

Demasse, who pitched 36 innings as a sophomore including in the quarterfinals during Dakota’s run to the State Final Four, believes he can be a major asset in the Mid-American Conference program.

“My goal is to be the best pitcher Ball State has ever seen,” Demasse said. “I think I’m a good player who’s going to be a really good player. The goal is to be drafted.

“I’ll bring energy, a strong work ethic and lots of talent. I want to help Ball State be the best program it can be.”

Demasse gave credit to his father, former MLB pitcher Joel Roa and the Hit Dogs for being major influences in his baseball journey.

“My dad and Joel Roa helped me with my game and I fell in love with pitching,” Demasse explained. “If I didn’t have them I wouldn’t be where I am now.

“The Hit Dogs showed me a level of competition of what really good baseball is like. That gave me a level of competitiveness.”

There was additional help at home in his drive to play baseball at the next level.

“My brother Will has a great work ethic and has been a great role model for me,” Demasse said in reference to an older sibling now playing baseball at Wayne State. “To see him work every day was big for me.”

Demasse, who carries a 3.63 GPA and is looking at a major in Kinesiology/exercise science, is admittedly still surprised how his recruiting process worked out.

“Going Division I is every baseball player’s dream,” Demasse said. “Going to a school I really really like is surreal. I couldn’t believe it. A year prior I had no idea. My parents are proud of me and I’m proud.”

Now committed, there is a lot to look forward to at the university in Muncie, Ind., located a little more than four hours from home.

“The grind,” Demasse said about what he’s excited about at the next level. “I can’t wait to go there and start working. I want to do everything that I do now but at a higher level. I’m ready for that grind and I’m ready to get better. I’m going to put the team first and win some games for them.”