BAY CITY - While a football injury in week three ended his high school season on the gridiron early and also meant missing out on a couple of baseball camps, Luke LaCourse is taking a positive outlook on where he is when it comes to his future on the ball diamond.

“It was a bummer, but it happens,” the Bay City Western sophomore said about the separated shoulder during football that did not require surgery and is now “probably 80-90 percent” according to LaCourse. “I actually feel it helped me. I learned a lot about the game through physical therapy. I learned that parts of my body are not as strong as they should be.”

The quest to improve strength is just part of what is ongoing with the top-rated uncommitted 2025 in Michigan.

“I’ve always been able to throw hard but if you look at my mechanics, they’re not what they should be or could be,” the 6-3 185-pounder pointed out. “This year I’m trying to dig into that to make myself better.”

It has LaCourse working with a pitching coach for the first time.

“My high school coach Tim McDonald sent me to Mike Steele and I just had my first lesson at the beginning of January,” LaCourse noted. “I’m going to go to him once a week for a couple of months.”

It was during his Little League years that thoughts about a future in baseball started for LaCourse.

“It was when I was 10, 11, maybe 12 years old when college baseball entered my mind,” related the fourth-rated sophomore right-handed pitcher in the state. “That’s when I learned to love baseball. My area has a really good Little League system and that helped.”

The reality of moving on to the next level took off this summer.

“I really made a big jump from last year,” LaCourse noted. “I was a totally different player than two years ago.”

His recruitment coincided with his improvement.

“My recruiting process didn’t start until the end of summer,” LaCourse explained. “Central Michigan and Oakland both have come to see me play with my Legion team Berryhill, I had a phone call with Louisville, and I went to a camp at Michigan and threw well. They really liked me.”

But while the football injury was a setback since the Michigan camp in early August, LaCourse is back talking to the Big 10 school again.

“I’m going to try and make a winter camp there and they said they will come see me during high school ball,” LaCourse related. “For now that’s what I’m focused on, getting ready for the high school season. We have a chance to make a good run.”

Adam Goodwin, PBR Michigan Director of Scouting, has big expectations for LaCourse, both this coming high school season and in the future.

“Luke is an exciting 2025 that is on the radar of some high-profile schools,” Goodwin said. “He's already added good weight this off-season that will help with the duration of a long spring and summer season. He has good range when he's at third base, but a high ceiling on the mound. He will help anchor the pitching staff for coach McDonald at Bay City Western."

In addition to playing a big role on his high school team, there is also a matter of doing what is best for a potential future in college baseball.

“I give credit to my travel ball coach Tony Leonard, who picked me up two years ago,” LaCourse said in reference to his mentor with the Motor City Hit Dogs. “It’s been a whole different baseball game playing with them. I’ve learned so much and it really pushes you to get better. They also do a good job to keep you in check.

“Tony also helped me with the Michigan camp. We were in Florida and we played on Friday and I flew back on Saturday for the camp from 9 to 3. We made it there at 12. He texted (head) coach Tracy (Smith) to let him know we have a kid coming you should look at. It’s nice to have help like that.”

There is more that LaCourse has done to help get recognized.

“I created a Twitter account this year to post the videos that PBR posts which are really great,” LaCourse said.

It has the 16-year-old excited about his future.

“I hope to finally get back to how I was pre-injury, throw some games, have coaches come watch me and be better than last year,” LaCourse said about what he envisions in the coming months as he reaches 100 percent health. “I always want to get better.”

A 3.8 student at Bay City Western with plans to major in finance, LaCourse has an idea of what he is looking for in a college.

“I really don’t want to have to travel too far,” LaCourse pointed out. “I want to stay close to everyone in my family so they can come watch me play. I also want to be on a good, positive team.”

As for when a college decision may come, sooner rather than later would be just fine for LaCourse.

“I’d like to get it done as early as possible so as not to stress on it any more,” LaCourse concluded. “I’d like to get the monkey off my back.”