Armed and ready to challenge best
LUKE Turner’s lifelong dream has come true.
The former Trinity Bay State High School student earlier this month enrolled at Miles Community College in Miles City, Montana, to chase his baseball ambitions.
The 186cm pitcher played for the Peninsula School and the Queensland Schoolboys as an under 18 player.
The Far North athlete also played in both the A and B Grade competition for the Cairns Breakthrough Bandits.
Turner played in the Queensland State Independent Competition from 2010 to 2015 and claimed the State Championships Batting Award in 2012 and in 2013.
He is looking forward to becoming a “Pioneer” later this year.
“I had been over to the US on tours before but last year I went there specifically to find a college,” Turner said.
“It is something I have always wanted to do.
“As an Australian player, it was attractive that there are other Australians attending the college, some of whom I have known from past teams and the Major League Baseball Australia Academy program.
“This college was also recommended to me by people within Baseball Queensland, and their experience and recommendation was good. I picked up a strong feeling of education and my development as a player.”
Pioneers coach Jeff Brabant found Turner through current players at the college and from his contacts in Australia.
“In watching him on video and interactions with him and his family, I feel strongly that he will come right in and compete for us,” Brabant said.
“He has the ability and potential to be a two-way guy for us ... on the mound and in the field.
“We have good relationships with a few quality programs in Australia, so I’m hoping the connection lasts and we can keep the line of players coming.
“Having had quite a few players from Australia in our program currently and in the past, I’m confident that we will create a great environment for Luke to succeed.”
Before heading to the States, Turner will travel to the Gold Coast for 10 days in July to try and book his place in an Australian team.
“I am really looking forward to getting over there. We will be training over there every day with the team – run, gym, train – as well as going to school,” Turner said.