Lavigueur Ready To Bring Swagger To Maine Program

NEWPORT, R.I. - In a three-month period Luc Lavigueur went from throwing 76 to 84 miles an hour. The personal best velo came on his birthday. A day later, the Rogers High School right-hander was talking with the University of Maine.

The America East Conference school will now be home for the 39th-rated 2022 RHP in New England.

“I called them the day after my birthday and we talked once a week after that,” the 16-year-old related. “It was the only school I was talking to and that was interested in me. I called my coach about what to do after they offered and he said to talk to my parents. They were super excited. I called them that night and committed.”

Ironically, it is the same school where older sister Beatrix was a two-year captain during a four-year swimming career from 2016-19.

“I had them in mind from when my sister went there to swim,” Lavigueur admitted. “I’m familiar with the campus since I was around there a lot.”

A video throwing 84 was sent to Maine which initiated the interest and soon after Lavigueur had a future home.

“It’s in a small town with not much to do there which I prefer,” Lavigueur said of what he liked about the university, which is located in Orono nearly five hours from his home in Newport. “Everything pretty much revolves around the school and sports. I like the local feeling. I also have family right down the street from the school.”

Maine saw a lot of promise in the 6-2 175-pounder, who has gained 20 pounds since May.

“We both enjoyed talking to each other,” noted Lavigueur, who relayed that his demeanor on the mound stood out to the Maine coaches. “They could tell I was a good kid.”

There is more about Lavigueur that impressed Maine.

“They’re big on a process-oriented fit with me,” Lavigueur related. “I’ve never been the biggest or thrown the hardest, but they like players that take their time and work to get there.”

That is what Lavigueur is doing.

“I’m currently trying to get physically in shape as much as possible,” the 135th-ranked New England junior explained. “I’ve been in the gym non-stop the last month lifting and throwing, trying to really push myself. I know what has to be done and I’m just working toward it.”

Lavigueur has had plenty of help in making recent improvements on the mound.

“I’ve always had good control,” Lavigueur noted. “But I have a new pitching coach I started throwing with at the end of quarantine and that’s when I started throwing harder.”

John DeRouin of Hops Athletic Performance “brought out the best in me” according to Lavigueur, who also credited long-time pitching coach Chris Mann of 365 sports who “gave me the mentality of how to carry myself.”

Cody Ortega, the owner/director of baseball operations for New England Scorpions and his coach from 13u until now, is another that has benefited Lavigueur in his baseball journey that began at a young age.

“Honestly, in elementary school I was asked what I want to do in the future and I put down college baseball,” Lavigueur reflected. “I’ve been with the Scorpions since 13u and that’s when I started thinking about my future and talking to schools. I knew then what I wanted to do but I knew I couldn’t take anything for granted.”

Business is the likely major for Lavigueur, a 3.85 student that believes he can make a major impact at the next level.

“I feel I’m a very good leader,” Lavigueur said. “I’ll bring a good mentality on and off the field. I carry myself in a good way that shows confidence not only in myself but in the guys behind me.”

Lavigueur admits to having a little bit of swagger.

“I have a chip on my shoulders,” Lavigueur said. “I like to walk around the mound and keep the team on their toes.”

A feeling of happiness comes with the commitment.

“It was one of the best days of my life,” Lavigueur said about making it official with Maine. “Everything I’ve worked for has come true. It’s given me motivation to keep working to live up to the expectations.”