The Mining City Tommyknockers announced the signing of catcher Luke Trainer Wednesday night.
Trainer will come to town from Millersville University in Pennsylvania. The Marauders play in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference at the NCAA Division II level.
As a junior last season, Trainer played in all 18 games as either the catcher or designated hitter. He batted .415 and was named All-PSAC East first-team as a designated hitter after driving in a team-high 22 runs. He also belted a team-beast three hom runs.
“Luke is a strong catcher with experienced lefthanded bat,” Butte Manager Tom Carty said. “He has strong summer wood bat baseball experience, which will help him take a leadership role.
The Tommyknockers are an Expedition League expansion team that will play its home games this summer at 3 Legends Stadium.
Here is a look at Trainer’s résumé:
- Named NCBWA Atlantic Region Hitter of the Week and PSAC East Athlete of the Week for the week of March 9, 2020
- Named All-PSAC East First Team designated hitter in 2019
2020 (Junior)
- Played and started all 18 games as either a catcher or designated hitter
- Hit .415 (the second-highest total on the team)
- Scored 16 runs, collected 22 hits (second-most on the team), four doubles, a triple, and a team-high 22 RBIs (tied for the fifth-best total in the PSAC)
- Hit a team-high three home runs (one at Barton on Feb. 8 and two vs. Le Moyne on March 7)
- Had a career-high seven RBIs in that Le Moyne game, a 5-for-5 performance that included a season-high four runs scored, two doubles
- That game was also part of a two-game stretch where Luke was 8-for-8 at the plate • Had six multi-hit games
- Had a team-best slugging percentage of .698 and his on-base percentage of .476 was second-highest on the Marauders
- Stole two bases on three attempts
- Season ended early due to coronavirus pandemic
2019 (Sophomore)
- One of five Marauders to be named to the first team as a DH
- Started 53 games and played in all 54
- Started 52 as the DH and started game three of the PSAC Tournament vs. Cal U behind the plate
- Led the team with a .440 OBP
- Drew a team-leading 32 walks
- Ranked fourth on the team with 42 RBIs
- Slashed .333/.466/.506 against the PSAC East
- Reached base 20 times in 40 leadoff opportunities
- Hit .357 with runners in scoring position
- Third on the team with 20 two-out RBIs
- Recorded 14 multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI games
- Recorded a career-high five hits against Fairmont State on March 1
- Drove in a career-high five runs at West Chester on April 21
- Drew three walks two times
- Went 5-for-13 in the PSAC Tournament with two hits against both Bloomsburg and Cal U
2018 (Freshman)
- Started 22 games behind the plate and seven as the DH
- Team went 15-7 in his starts at catcher
- Outstanding plate discipline and a knack for getting on base as a freshman
- Posted a .350 OBP, drawing 17 walks while striking out just 11 times
- Drew four walks and had two doubles in five postseason starts
- Drove in a season-high two runs twice (vs. Goldey-Beacom and vs. Bloomsburg)
- Produced a season-high three hits against Mansfield in the series finale
High School
- Won four varsity letters
- Named All-Lancaster-Lebanon League Second Team as a sophomore and first team as a senior
- Awarded Section 2 player of the week once during his freshman year
