OREGON, Ohio — A basketball player in the winter and baseball player in the spring, Clay High School's Luke Jeremy is known for his versatility.
In fact, Clay baseball head coach Jim Phillips said Jeremy does not have one set position and plays wherever he is needed in the infield.
"He's definitely like our Swiss army knife-type guy," Phillips said. "Having a guy that can play multiple positions and not have a drop off in what they're bringing to the table is something that's a huge benefit knowing that whatever position we put him in, he's going to be really good in that role."
Jeremy recently added a personal stat to his well-rounded baseball resume when he had a multi-homerun game Tuesday in a win over Bowling Green. It was the first of his high school career.
"First time around, I never swing for the fences but I got an inside slider in and I just took it, carried over the fence and second time around, same pitch I just took it inside, carried it over," he recalled. "It's not just me, it's the team. We all just work essentially hard to get where we want. We know how capable we are of going far but we just always focus next game ahead."
Jeremy is one of 11 seniors on Clay's baseball team, making for an experienced squad. That experience has played a part in their success in remaining undefeated in the Northern Lakes League.
"Obviously a lot of experience. We have eight seniors that are in the starting lineup night in and night out and used to being in tough games, big spots, so knowing what to expect is a big part of it," Phillips said. "He's contributing offensively and defensively and on the mound so he's been really a great surprise in our lineup and a big contributor to the team's success."
As Jeremy's senior season continues to play out, he hopes for more success with his tight-knit team. He said he will be taking more than just baseball with him when he graduates in the coming months.
"It taught me to be a better person for sure. These coaches are great, they don't just teach you baseball, they teach you life skills," Jeremy said. "Just to never give up and if something bad happens, just never drop your head and walk away. I think that if we keep this up and we keep grinding, the talent will go pretty far in the playoffs."
Luke Jeremy is our Athlete of the Week.