Baseball:

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

Luke Heiberg’s high school baseball career was much like a roller coaster.

He had dramatic up and down moments.

But unlike a roller coaster, Heiberg finished on top (of his game).

Heiberg began his prep career at La Salle, and despite starting his freshman campaign on the JV team, he showed initiative and not only stuck around for the varsity practices, he asked Lancers’ coach Mike Parisi if he could work his way into a hitting group.

Eventually, when the moment was right, Parisi called Heiberg up to varsity.

“I had a senior quit on me after the second Bishop Amat game and it made room for Luke,” Parisi said. “His first high school home run was at ELAC versus Cathedral and we beat them, 1-0. I knew his dad, who was an all-CIF player at Temple City, and when I brought Luke up, I knew what I was getting. He works hard and brings great intensity.”

Heiberg hit 264, with 14 hits, six runs, six RBI’s, three doubles, one triple and a home run in his time with the varsity club.

This writer can recall vividly a number of people that told me to look out for Luke Heiberg during his freshman year, including some parents, and two of La Salle’s best players, Ethan Patrick and Zane Lindeman.

After that year, the La Salle administration and Parisi parted ways, and it didn’t go over well with the players, and Heiberg was no exception.

“Once Mike was gone, I didn’t want to be at La Salle,” Heiberg said. “I already didn’t feel that comfortable there, because we weren’t rich like most of the kids there. But when they forced Mike out, I really wanted to leave.”

His family decided to give it another year, and it turned out to be a pretty memorable sophomore season.

With two weeks to go and looking from the outside in on what they hoped would be a playoff opportunity, La Salle won two of three with first-place Bishop Amat and then swept lowly Cathedral to leapfrog Serra and finish second in the Del Rey League.

Heiberg did his part in the Lancers defeating Charter Oak (5-3), Temecula Valley (1-0), Temescal Canyon (6-0) and Long Beach Wilson (3-2), which earned La Salle a spot in the CIF-SS Division 3 championship game at Cal State Fullerton.

Three days later, the Lancers took an early 2-0 lead, but No. 1 ranked Maranatha rallied and won the D-3 title, 4-2.

Of all the good that happened on that magical ride during the 2018 season, there was also a devastating and yet beautiful moment that rocked Heiberg to his core.

His grandpa (and hero) Al Russell, who had been at every baseball game Luke had ever played died suddenly at the far too young age of 71.

Luke was beyond crushed and so much so that his teammates and coaches were surprised to see him show up for a game a day or two later.

Heiberg did not play well and La Salle lost that game.

He walked out to shallow right field where the team does its postgame chat before leaving Arcadia County Park to go home.

Still in a cloud of darkness and after going 0-for-4, Heiberg held it together and remained on the grass in right field until all of his teammates and coaches had walked to the first base dugout to gather their gear.

Once the coast was clear, Luke turned his back so people couldn’t see his face, dropped to a knee and just broke down crying.

He was all alone and was suffering the most acute pain he’d ever had to endure during his 16 years on this planet.

But he wouldn’t be alone for long.

Ethan Patrick, one of the SGV’s most elite baseball players in both 2017 and 2018, who now plays for Loyola Marymount, saw his younger friend at a low point, walked out to right field, embraced a teary-eyed Heiberg and as Luke remembers it, EP said in his ear, “things are going to be OK, Luke. They are going to be OK.”

Not too long after their hug was over, his other teammates and coaching staff walked out to right field and one-by-one they showed how good people can be to each other by giving Luke both the love and support he needed at that moment.

Luke’s grandpa Al meant everything to him, and during a phone interview, Heiberg could not talk about his grandpa or that beautiful moment without tears.

It was nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, it’s just the opposite.

Luke Heiberg was allowing the deep love he continues to have for his grandfather to come out and hopefully he felt better after talking about it.

So, it’s on to 2019, and Heiberg finally gets his wish to transfer to Monrovia.

And things didn’t start as smoothly as he would have liked.

Luke had to sit out more games than he thought he might and because of a pretty solid ‘beef’ as he called it between La Salle and Monrovia, it wasn’t exactly a love at first sight scenario with his teammates.

That would change.

“Once I showed them I was going to work my butt off and that I was all about being their teammate and doing anything I could within my power to help us win games, they accepted me and it felt really good.”

Despite missing almost half of the season, he batted .391, with 18 hits, 11 runs, nine RBIs, six doubles, one triple and a home run.

All was not well at Monrovia, though.

It was the first time they hadn’t made the playoffs in more than a decade and the players felt horrible that they had let longtime coach Brad Blackmore and their alumni down.

That disappointment, embarrassment and even shame drove each and every player in a green uniform to recommit to being a Wildcat and what they’re all about.

And the results in 2020 spoke for themselves.

Through the first eight games, Monrovia got off to a 7-1 start and outscored its opponents, 77-17.

Heiberg was the catalyst to that start.

From the leadoff spot, Luke hit .464, with 13 hits, 10 runs, nine RBIs, two doubles, and a pair of triples.

When COVID-19 ended their season, the Wildcats had a team batting average of .409 and its staff combined on a 1.78 ERA.

Chantz Powers (.611), Matthew Delgado (.591) and Sebastian Sanchez (.579) had the top three batting averages among the 35-plus schools this site covers within the SGV.

All that success that Heiberg and his teammates enjoyed early on made the season’s closing so difficult to accept.

Luckily for Blackmore, the vast majority of his offense comes back in 2021, but Heiberg has to move on to college ball.

“From the day my junior season ended, everybody that was coming back really focused on working their butts off and giving Coach B all we had,” Luke said. “We were all getting along well, having a lot of success and the numbers spoke to that. I wanted to do anything asked of me and I was willing to do anything I could to help our team win as many games as possible.”

For his high school career, Heiberg finished with a combined batting average of .343, with 62 hits, 37 runs scored, 30 RBIs, 12 doubles, four triples and two home runs.

And keep in mind, he got called up late his freshman year, missed half of the season in 2019 and only played eight games in 2020, so his numbers are pretty remarkable.

These days, unlike most kids his age, Heiberg isn’t playing video games or binging on Netflix.

He’s spending time performing oil changes and other feats because of his mechanical knowledge and abilities.

He was hoping some D-1 schools were going to get the chance to come see him play, including Cal State Bakersfield, who needed an outfielder, but the Coronavirus wiped that out too.

One thing it can’t touch is his resolve, spirit and skills, and Luke Heiberg will make a collegiate baseball program better off next year for having him.

While his parents Lisa and Jim aren’t still together, they both mean the world to him, he gets to spend time with both and they are without question his biggest fans.

Lastly, we asked Heiberg to touch on his time and both La Salle and Monrovia and the passing of his beloved Grandpa, Al Russell.

“I had no idea the older guys respected me that much at La Salle during my freshman year, but that means a lot to hear that. I had a great time playing with them and guys my age like Mark Daley, who I am still close to. Ethan Patrick was our best player and he was the best friend any guy could ask for. He didn’t care about our difference in age and just helped me through some tough times, on and off the baseball field. I appreciate all that Mike Parisi did for me and the confidence he showed in me. I really felt like family with that group. Monrovia also became home for me and I am very grateful to my guys and it felt so good when they accepted me. I have so much respect for Coach B (Blackmore) because he treats us like men and expects us to conduct ourselves like men. He didn’t baby us.

When it comes to my grandpa, there are no words to describe accurately just how much I loved him and how much he meant in my life, and still does. He helped raised me, and I always used to look up to see where he was in the stands and not having him there anymore is devastating. But I know how much he loves me and he knows how much I love him, so I feel lucky for all the time he was in my life and I hope to see him again someday. I will always try and make him proud every day of my life.”

Luke, if there is one thing that is for certain, it’s that your grandpa is eternally proud of the perseverance you’ve shown through so much adversity, for the way you hold him close to your heart and for the responsible young man that you’ve become.

Quotable:

Monrovia coach, Brad Blackmore: “Luke was supposed to come to Monrovia when he was a freshmen, he ended up going to LaSalle and it worked out . He got to play in a d-3 final the same day we played in a d-4. His coming back to Monrovia was fortunate for us. And the kids had went to school and played with him when he was young so it was an easy transition. Every game Luke played for me he hit leadoff. Very talented hitter and great base runner. Usually played cf or lf. He was our offensive catalyst for sure. Great competitor who was having a tremendous year when everything got stopped. I played against his dad Jim in high school and played with him in college so I knew what kind of intense athlete Luke was. He definitely lived up to expectations and will be sorely missed.”

Heiberg’s coach at La Salle, Mike Parisi: “It was a privilege coaching Luke on the varsity team as a freshmen at La Salle. He had zero fear playing at that level. I remember him having a big game vs Cathedral to help get us in the playoffs in 2017. I feel bad for this shorten season, Luke was off to a monster start for Monrovia. We have always remained close and I’m looking forward to following his college career.”

Monrovia junior, Chantz Powers: “Luke is a guy you want to have on your team. He’s an offensive catalyst and a rally starter for our lineup. More importantly, he brings a competitive edge to the entire team. He’s definitely a guy I will miss having on the squad next year, not only as a player, but as a teammate too.”

Former La Salle star shortstop/current Loyola Marymount infielder, Ethan Patrick: “Luke was one of those kids that you looked at and you knew he was special. I will never forget seeing him hit an absolute bomb at East LA College against Cathedral as a young freshman. He has so much love for the game of baseball and he plays with so much passion. Off the field, Luke has the biggest heart and he’s always there for you when you need it most.”

La Salle senior, Mark Daley: “He was a very focused and competitive guy on his craft. Most importantly, he’s never intimidated at the opponent he faced and never seemed phased at the pressure situations. To me, he was also a good friend with good laughs and jokes to be had and always had your back on the field. Definitely was a guy you would want playing next to you with heart.”

Luke Heiberg career stats:

2020: .464, 13 hits, 10 runs, nine RBIs, two doubles, two triples, 464 on-base percentage, .678 slugging and 1.143 OPS

2019: .391, 18 hits, 11 runs, nine RBIs, six doubles, triple, HR

2018: .250, 17 hits, 10 runs, six RBI’s, double

2017: .264, 14 hits, six runs, six RBI’s, three doubles, triple, home run.

Career: .343 batting average, 62 hits, 37 runs scored, 30 RBIs, 12 doubles, four triples and two home runs.

To see Luke’s photo gallery, click on Facebook link here: Facebook