Generals’ McGee ready to recognize a dream come true

  • brian questel
  • November 3, 2011
  • 301
                        
110711 McGeesignsOSU Promo: McGee, Ohio State ready to sign on the dotted line Generals’ McGee ready to recognize a dream come true By Brian Questel He’s seen them on television and now Luke McGee is hoping to make the move onto the little screen himself No, the Wooster senior isn’t looking to become an actor. He is, however, ready to continue his athlete career not only on a big screen TV but also in the Big Ten. That dream will come to fruition November 9 when he officially signs to play baseball for Ohio State. “I’m thrilled. It’s a dream come true,” said McGee, who just wrapped up the Generals’ football season and is moving onto the hardwood. “I’ve watched them on TV and everything, but it’s the last place I honestly ever saw myself going. If someone had told me my freshman or sophomore year I would be getting a scholarship to play for Ohio State, I wouldn’t have believed them. I can’t wait to go down there.” McGee set up a whirlwind summer by going 8-0 for the Generals last spring, helping them win the Ohio Cardinal Conference title. He was named the conference’s pitcher of the year and his effort on the mound earned him an invitational to play in the Crossroad Series. From there, his baseball life has been on the fast track, culminating in an early September workout that caught Ohio State’s attention. “On September 11, I was in a showcase in Chillicothe that was by invitation only,” said McGee. “It was a big showcase, with about 100 (players) there. I saw scouts from different colleges there, like Ohio State and Michigan State. That was on Sunday. On Tuesday night, Mike Stafford of Ohio State, who is the pitching coach, called me and said he saw me pitch and liked what he saw. “The next Sunday he wanted me to come to a skills camp at Ohio State, where they saw me pitch more and he liked what he saw. We talked more after the camp and they wanted me to visit. The next Tuesday I visited and liked it more.” The scholarship soon followed, which McGee locked down immediately in part to get away from the recruiting demands. “Before no one was really calling except Division III schools like Bluffton,” said McGee. “I was playing for the Northern Ohio Hurricanes (this summer) and the Akron coach saw me and then the word got out in a hurry. It was stressful at times – coaches were calling every other night, emails were being sent left and right, letters, check this school out – it was a lot of work. “I feel great. There was some stress, so it’s a relief more than anything.” McGee appeared in three of the Crossroads Series, first in Ohio and then Michigan. As a result, he was named to Team Illinois, which wound up beating Ohio in the championship. “That was the place one of the guys in the Chillicothe Showcase saw me and sent me a letter inviting me to attend,” said McGee. What Ohio State liked about McGee was simple: “They liked my mechanics.” “I don’t put a lot of stress on my arm or shoulder,” said McGee, although it didn’t hurt he was left-handed as well. “As soon as I get stronger, I’ll throw harder and when I use my legs more, they feel the sky’s the limit.” McGee, who is 13-3 as a General, is looking ahead to the spring, but isn’t going to burden himself with unnecessary expectations. “I’m going to go out and control what I can control – don’t try to do too much, stay humble and do the best I can,” he said. “They don’t want me trying to throw 100 mph when I’m not capable of doing that just because I’m going to Ohio State.” One of the main reason’s McGee has had the success he’s had is because he’s taken that approach in the past. “I listen to my body – if my arm hurts I don’t throw,” said McGee. “If I can’t raise my arm above my head, don’t throw. I don’t mess with my body.” McGee has been largely self-taught when it comes to the mechanics that Ohio State and Wooster head coach Derek Boyd both appreciate. “I watched the MLB guys and the way they finish, tuck their glove and follow through,” he said. “I model what they are doing. I figured if they are doing it right, it’s something I should do.” McGee said that Ohio State would give him an opportunity to pitch right away, making him the second Wooster hurler on a pitching staff at OSU, as Kasie Kelly is pitching for the OSU softball team. That, along with the opportunity to play for Ohio State, tipped the balance for him. “Akron was probably my No. 1,” said McGee. “Eastern Kentucky and Ohio University called, but I didn’t get to see them. Ohio State called and I went down right away and when they offered the scholarship, I didn’t think I’d get anything better than what I was offered. “I asked about playing time because Akron said I’d pitch, but I could play the outfield and bat, too. Ohio State said, ‘With the scholarship we’re offering you, we’re not guaranteeing you’ll start as a freshman, but you’ll pitch.’ I don’t know if I’ll start or pitch in relief – they just guaranteed I’ll pitch.” Boyd is expecting another big season out of McGee in his final campaign as a General and anticipates McGee will fare well as a Buckeye. “We talked briefly because he was busy with football … and basketball is coming,” said Boyd. “Our conversations were short. We’re not going to change anything … and Luke is the kind of kid who’ll be fine – he’ll handle it just fine. He knows he doesn’t have to prove stuff and I won’t want to change anything, but that’s his personality. He doesn’t have to prove anything, but that’s tough, especially for a high school kid. But, as we get closer to the season, we’ll talk about what our plans are and go from there.” Boyd agreed with the Buckeyes assessment that McGee’s mechanics were solid. “He’s pretty fluid in his motion and doesn’t put much pressure on his arm or shoulder,” said Boyd. “We’ve talked about some things to clean up, but mechanics are not where I would start with Luke. He throws three pitches for strikes and my short list of things for him as far as getting better is working ahead in count and getting ahead of hitters. That helps everything all together. That’s the first thing I want to see; him work ahead. When you have that advantage over hitters, getting up in the count gives you a greater chance of success. “And, I want to work on his move. As a lefty, that’s a part of his game where he can get better. It’s not that there isn’t things to work on or that he’s perfect, but his mechanics are not a big concern. “I know he’s excited to go to the next level and the Division I level. It all comes down to getting people out. It doesn’t matter if you’re a freshman or a senior, he’ll have that opportunity. Ohio State is in need of lefthanders. That’s a big part of why he’s fortunate enough to go down there. If he shows he can compete and get people out, he’ll be just fine.”


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