Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

SOLON – As of Monday evening Luke Ira hadn’t locked in any big holiday plans for July 4th. That doesn’t mean Ira wasn’t busy making decisions on his future on Monday.

Ira gave a verbal commitment to continue his baseball career at South Dakota State on Monday hours before slugging a pair of home runs and collective five hits in a doubleheader sweep of Maquoketa.

The junior infielder and pitcher selected South Dakota State over interest from Western Illinois and Iowa.

“I saw my options and this was the best one for me,” Ira said. “There offer was really good and I just couldn’t pass it up.”

Already a four-year starter, Ira has split time between shortstop and pitcher during his prep career.

South Dakota State recruited Ira as an infielder and sees the 6-foot-1 junior as a player that can help as soon as he steps on campus in the fall of 2018.

“Their infielders right now are all juniors this year so the year I go they will all be gone,” Ira said. “I should have a chance to play right away and that’s what I wanted.”

Solon coach Keith McSweeney has seen his fair share of college prospects pass through his program in 18 years as head coach.

McSweeney believes Ira has everything it takes to excel at the next level.

“I think wherever he went he was going to play, I don’t care if it’s South Dakota State, Iowa or Western Illinois,” McSweeney said. “I think had he not committed there were probably other offers coming but he got a great offer and we are excited for him.”

Ira cemented his status as a sought-after college prospect this summer putting together the best season of his career while helping Solon to a 20-12 record.

He leads the Spartans with a .491 batting average, 52 hits, 41 runs, four home runs, 27 RBI and 13 stolen bases, all team-highs.

“My confidence is as high as it’s been,” Ira said. “I’m just seeing the ball really well.”

Ira is also 3-4 with a 2.82 ERA in 44 2/3 innings this season with 44 strikeouts and 13 walks as the Spartan’s ace.

He’s made his biggest mark at the plate this season where his current .491 batting average is better than 150 points higher than his previous career best.

In 32 games this season Ira has already set career-highs in runs, home runs and stolen bases.

He has walked 17 times and struck out only eight, the best ratio of his career.

“This year he has had made a big jump, the biggest jumps he’s made in all facets,” McSweeney said. “He is so confident, the game has just slowed down immensely for him. He’s great against high velocity guys, he’s has a good approach against low velocity guys, he’s good against the off-speed.”

Ira credits his success partly to added strength and size and also to addition work.

A three-sport athlete that also excels in basketball and track, Ira played fall baseball last year and feels it prepared him for his junior season jump.

“Getting strong has been big and just seeing the ball,” Ira said. “I kind of tweaked my swing a little bit this past fall and I think that has helped a little bit.”

Ira visited South Dakota State in April and was impressed with the Brookings, South Dakota campus.

South Dakota was 26-24 this season including a 18-12 record in the Summit League.

“They had really nice facilities and really got along with the staff well,” Ira said. “I just liked the environment when I was there.”