Blue Comets bank on Luck

ASHEBORO — Every high school baseball team needs a little luck during the course of the season and for the Asheboro High School Blue Comets, that luck is junior outfielder Ben Luck.

But little is certainly not what the three-year varsity performer has contributed this season. He has been a solid player offensively and defensively for AHS, which returned to regular-season play this week after three games in the ZooKeepers Classic last week at McCrary Park.

Luck, who hit .214 in 25 games as a sophomore, has raised his game to become one of the top hitters in the county. Entering play this week, he is hitting .419 (18-for-43) with seven runs scored, 12 RBIs, eight doubles, one triple and the only home run AHS has hit as a team.

“We talked to him about how hard he needed to work and kind of what we saw potential-wise from him, especially his junior and senior year where he will be hitting in the two, three or four hole and being one of the key parts of our team,” AHS coach Bret Hoogkamp said. “He has taken that to heart. In my time here, he has probably made the biggest jump in working hard and improving than anyone in the past few years.”

Luck is the son of Steve Luck, the longtime coach, athletic director and administrator at AHS.

“Having a guy like Steve as his dad, someone who has been around the game so long, he knows what to expect and how hard he has to work to be successful at this game,” Hoogkamp said. “The best thing about him is he’s coachable. Whatever you tell him, he’s going to take it to heart and work on it.”

Luck said he took a new approach heading into the season, an approach that has certainly paid dividends.

“Last year, I didn't do so well…,” Luck said. “I had a chip on my shoulder when I worked this offseason. I took a lot of hacks, the weight room really big, speed training and also my mindset. 

“Last year I felt I didn’t have an approach at the plate. I was just swinging and not trusting myself. I realize I have the ability and confidence to come out here and compete. And have fun. This is a game and I want to compete and have fun.”

Luck had plenty of fun last week at the ZooKeepers Classic as the Blue Comets (4-11) dropped a 4-1 decision to Williams, fell 13-6 to Southern Alamance and busted loose for a season high in runs and hits with a 13-1 win over Jordan-Matthews. Luck had three of AHS’ 13 hits in that contest. For the three games, he was 7-for-12 with four runs scored, six RBIs, three doubles, a triple and a home run.

“He’s in the cage before anyone,” Hoogkamp said. “He’s almost exhausted by the time we start to hit. He knows he can be a really good baseball player and we are counting on him for this year and next year and he’s going to continue to be better.”

Luck has also taken a very mature approach to the season. Things are certainly going well now, but he knows it will take plenty of work throughout the rest of the season to maintain this level of play.

“It feels really good now, but in baseball you can go four-for-four with four home runs and the next day strike out four times,” Luck said. “You have to stay level-headed.” 

It’s said that great players make their own luck. At AHS, Luck has made himself a great player.