ORONO, Maine — Last summer, Jarrett Lukas decided to take a break from baseball.
Despite coming off a productive sophomore season at the University of Maine, where he was the starting third baseman, he was starting to look toward the future.
Two weeks before school began in August, after discussing his situation with UMaine coach Steve Trimper, Lukas decided he would not return to the team this year.
“I thought about it all summer,” said the former Old Town High School star. “I started to think about where I wanted to be and my goals, my future.”
Realizing it was unlikely he would one day become a high-level professional baseball player, Lukas instead decided to concentrate on his education.
“I want to focus on grades a little more because I just didn’t see baseball, five years down the road, [being as important] as I do academics or my career.”
Lukas, who is studying biochemistry, is preparing for a career in that diverse field.
“It’s just wide open. I’ve found a whole bunch of different places you can go.”
Lukas was a two-year starter for UMaine. He batted .320 last season with five home runs and 35 RBIs. He was a steady third baseman who had a knack for bare-handing slow rollers down the line.
As a freshman, Lukas was named to the America East All-Rookie Team after hitting .319 with four homers and 28 RBIs.
“He’s a tremendous athlete and he’s going to be tough to replace,” said Trimper, who respects Lukas’ decision to concentrate on academics.
“He’s a superstar kid,” Trimper said. “He wants to focus on his career. You can’t knock somebody for that.”
Lukas was able to find peace in giving up baseball, but he felt as though he was letting down his teammates and friends..
“I knew what I wanted to do to get where I wanted to be,” he said. “The hardest part was thinking about my teammates, especially the seniors on the team this year, and leaving them without a third baseman.”
Lukas said Trimper was willing to make significant concessions in terms of making his schedule more flexible in an effort to convince him to stay with the program. However, both eventually agreed he was making the right move.
“It takes a lot of commitment,” Trimper said of Division I student-athletes. “I think maybe he would have cheated himself in the classroom or he may not have been able to put the time in on the field.”
Lukas’ departure is expected to mean sophomore Kyle Stilphen of Pittston will play third base, opening the door for freshman Mike Fransoso to compete for the starting spot at second base.
Rockland’s Morrill chooses Bears
While UMaine is losing Lukas, it has already lined up another infielder.
Luke Morrill of Rockland confirmed Tuesday he has verbally committed to accept a scholarship to play baseball at UMaine starting in 2011-2012.
“I went to their camp during the summer and got to know the staff,” said Morrill, a 6-foot-4, left-handed-hitting shortstop who is a junior at Rockland District High School.
“I really liked the coaching staff. I like the field. I like the passion that most of those guys have who come play at Maine,” said Morrill, who is a pitcher for the Tigers. “It’s been the one thing I’ve always wanted to do.”
Morrill played American Legion ball with the Amato’s team based on the midcoast.
Morrill, who also plays soccer and basketball at Rockland, comes from a family with some athletic prowess. His father Casey was a quarterback at Maine Maritime Academy in Castine and his brother Dominic plays basketball at Colby College in Waterville.
Luke Morrill was pleased to get his college decision out of the way.
“I’m really excited about it,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity and I can’t wait to get up there.”
Trimper is prohibited from commenting on Morrill until he has signed a National Letter of Intent (in November 2010).
Morrill’s participation at UMaine is contingent upon his admission to the university and compliance with NCAA initial-eligibility guidelines.