STANDISH – Jarrett Lukas was on Cloud Nine when Dr. John Winkin presented him with the award bearing the University of Maine legend’s name prior to Friday night’s High School Senior All Star Baseball Classic at St. Joseph’s College.
But the newest Mr. Maine Baseball was brought back down to earth abruptly when he led off the game for the East and was hit by a pitch.
Lukas, a shortstop/pitcher from Old Town, beat out Poland’s Joe Douglass, Oak Hill’s Josh Jillson and Gordon Webb of Bangor for the award, which is presented annually to the top senior high school player in the state. Past recipients include Ryan Flaherty, Mark Rogers and Matt Kinney.
“I was really honored,” Lukas said. “I couldn’t have gone up against a better set of guys. I was surprised. Gordy Webb hit, what, .590 or something. Josh Jillson pitching no-hitters. Joe Douglass, all-around player. It’s a great honor.”
Lukas, a pitcher/shortstop, led Old Town to a 14-5 record and the semifinals of the Eastern Class A regional, batting .487 with four home runs and a 5-3 record on the mound this year. He was the KVAC North Player of the Year and Gatorade’s Maine Player of the Year. He will attend the University of Maine in the fall, where he will be teammates with Jillson.
“I’m looking forward to it big time,” Lukas said. “Coach (Steve) Trimper seems like a really good guy. I’m rooming with Josh Jillson, so I’m really excited.”
Lukas showed why he was deemed the best senior in the state by Maine’s college coaches by smacking a two-run triple and an RBI single, scoring two runs and pitching an inning and 1/3 of scoreless relief to lead the East to an 8-6 victory. The West still holds an 10-5 advantage overall, with one rain out.
The other local Mr. Baseball finalists performed well. Jillson had a triple, scored a run and scored three innings of scoreless relief for the West. Douglass had the game’s only home run, a two-run shot, for the West. Also for the West, Ethan Guerette of Oak Hill had a single, walked twice and scored twice. Jake Pelletier of Poland pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief, giving up one run while fanning five. Maranacook’s Justin Denbow had an RBI single.
For the East, Ben Goodall of Oxford Hills tossed 2 2/3 innings of relief and gave up three runs. He also had an infield hit.
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