ANTWERP - After losing out on his sophomore campaign at Antwerp, Luke Krouse nearly saw his future home on the ball diamond vanish.

“I was really disappointed,” Krouse said about his feelings when Bowling Green announced the elimination of the BGSU baseball program back in mid-May. “I love the coaching staff and the school in general and it was sad to see that happening, especially knowing they were bringing in a lot of local kids from northwest Ohio. Rigo (Ramos), Owen (Recker), (Kyle) Penrod, (Landon) Willeman … I knew all those guys would have to find a new home. It was unfortunate.”

It also meant the state’s fourth-ranked 2022 left-handed pitcher would have to reconsider his college plans.

“I went to a prospect camp there in the fall and I liked how coach (Kyle) Hallock interacted,” reflected Krouse, who was being recruited by both Bowling Green and Kent State. “It was a teaching camp with a relaxed environment.”

It felt like home for the Antwerp two-sport standout, who this past winter helped the Archers to 25 straight wins on the basketball court before losing in the regionals.

“I’ve been to Bowling Green quite a bit,” Krouse related. “I feel relaxed there and it’s still in Ohio. It reminds me of a bigger version of Antwerp.”

Enough so to make a college commitment, something that happened after the baseball program at the Mid-American Conference school was revived.

“It was nice to watch everyone step up,” Krouse said about money being raised to help save the sport at the Wood County university. “It was cool how they brought it back.”

The 37th-ranked incoming junior in Ohio is now a major part of the future in the BG program, with Hallock promoted to head coach since the reinstatement took place.

“He was at the regional final game and he saw how I took control,” Krouse said in reference to last year’s 4-3 nine-inning win over Kalida that catapulted Antwerp to the state tournament for the first time in school history. “I gave up three runs in the first inning and he wanted to see how I responded.”

Ironically, Krouse was being seen while a BG commit was in the other dugout.

“The first time they saw me was the regional semifinal game,” Krouse related. “Owen (Recker) was starting the other game and coach Hallock came to watch. I saw him when I was going to the bullpen and he came to watch us both the next day. So I have to thank Owen for helping me get to Bowling Green.”

Contact continued between Krouse and BG for a year before an offer was made.

“We were on our way to my cousin’s graduation on Sunday,” noted Krouse about the memorable phone call. “My mom, dad and sister were with me. It was a good moment.”

Krouse became the first Division I baseball commit in Antwerp history.

“This means a lot,” Krouse said. “It took a lot of hard work and my mom and dad really helped me. My sister, my grandma and everyone that supported me during basketball and baseball are so happy for me. It’s awesome to be a part of it.”

Krouse credited a handful of people with making it possible.

“My dad has always been there helping me with everything,” Krouse explained. “Coach (Tom) Held at Defiance helped with teaching me stuff and my hitting coach, Ken Jones in Fort Wayne, helped me with hitting and just telling me if I keep getting better good things will happen. Coach (Doug) Billman (Antwerp basketball) helped by allowing me to do things during the season and coach (Zac) Feasby (Antwerp baseball) showed me what hard work looks like. Coach (Tom) Schaffer with Bo Jackson kept in contact with coach Hallock and let him know what I was doing.”

A personal-best 85 on the radar gun with Bo Jackson Elite this past week helped show Krouse was putting in the work.

“Not having a spring season in a way helped me,” Krouse said. “It really helped me get stronger. I did my own weight lifting in the basement and didn’t have to focus on games. I did lifting and throwing and was able to get in long toss. The extra time to get ready for summer ball really helped.”

But, admittedly, Krouse was disappointed the spring season - with dreams of another state trip - did not take place.

“Kent State and Bowling Green told me they’d try to get to some of my high school games,” Krouse pointed out. “That would have been cool for them to come to Antwerp. Not a lot of coaches come to Antwerp for baseball.”

The plan is for Krouse to bring the same qualities to BG that he displays in his hometown.

“I’m a big leader at Antwerp, not only on the field but in school,” Krouse said. “When you have success, others look up to you.

“I plan to do the same thing at Bowling Green. If you win, people will come. I want to be a leader of that. I did it at Antwerp and think I have those leadership abilities that I can take there as a freshman to help out a lot.”