Notre Dame’s Luke Shilling, who just graduated as part of the school’s Class of 2015, was named today the Michigan Gatorade State Baseball Player of the Year.
The Gatorade State Baseball Players of the Year were selected based on athletic production and impact in the 2014-15 season. Each winner also demonstrated high academic achievement and exemplary personal character, including volunteerism, sportsmanship and community leadership.
From Gatorade and USA Today:
THE WINNER: Luke Shilling
THE BASICS
School: Notre Dame Prep (Pontiac, Mich.)
Grade: Senior
Position: RHP/1B
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 250 pounds
Athletic achievement: He led the Fighting Irish to a 20-10 record and the Division II district tournament, scheduled to begin May 30. At the time of his selection, Shilling owned a 7-1 record with a 0.70 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 49.2 innings. Ranked as the state’s No. 2 prep prospect in the Class of 2015 by Perfect Game USA, he batted .383 with six home runs, 22 RBI and a .704 slugging percentage through 30 games.
Academic excellence: Shilling has maintained a 3.41 weighted GPA.
Exemplary character: He has volunteered locally at a food bank, as a youth baseball coach and in association with Focus: HOPE, a non-profit organization which aims to help overcome racism and poverty.
THE PRAISE
“Luke Shilling is one of the strongest pitchers and overall baseball players that we have competed against in recent years,” said Michael Hardies, head coach at Lutheran North. “He obviously throws hard, but he also displayed great control in the game he threw against us. He is also a fine catcher and is a strong hitter.”
THE FUTURE: Shilling has signed with Illinois.
Read what Detroit Free Press sports columnist Mick McCabe wrote about Shilling recently here.
Follow Notre Dame on Twitter at @NDPMA.
About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.