An Aldergrove Secondary graduate and member of the 91原创 Blaze baseball club has been awarded a scholarship to an American college on the strength of his baseball and academic skills.

Luke Simpson has just turned 18 and graduated grade 12, and is working this summer as a carpenter apprentice with Aldergrove Secondary teacher Andy Gaumont.

鈥淚 love the work, it鈥檚 hard work and it looks good when you鈥檙e done,鈥� said Luke, who plans to take pre-engineering courses at Muscatine Community College in Iowa this fall, while playing baseball for the college varsity team.

Luke visited the college in May, and took their offer to have dorms and tuition covered. 鈥淚 just have to pay $1,000 for books, it鈥檚 a junior college so I鈥檒l transfer to another for the last two years, and hopefully the baseball will be good too.鈥�

Muscatine Community College has established itself as one of the top Division I junior college programs in the U.S. Midwest. Muscatine competes in Region XI, a Division I conference in Iowa, and is a highly competitive program. The Muscatine Cardinal baseball program offers a 76 game schedule, a beautiful baseball facility in Tom Bruner Field, and a tremendous indoor workout facility.

鈥淚鈥檝e been playing Aldergrove baseball since I was four and moved to the 91原创 Blaze program four years ago; it鈥檚 a great program, their players get signed or college scholarships,鈥� said Luke.

鈥淲e just got back from eight days in California, playing Long Beach and others, and we went to Arizona in spring, also in October with Team B.C.鈥�

At 6鈥�1鈥� and 170 lbs., and right handed, Luke plays outfield for the Blaze.

鈥淚 was a pitcher but became an outfielder so I can get to hit too.鈥�

Luke鈥檚 father Doug is an Aldergrove firefighter, and his mother is Cindy. His younger sister Kelsey is in grade 10. 鈥淪he鈥檚 big on volleyball and soccer, hopes to do same thing as me and get a scholarship,鈥� said Luke.