Cody Luttrell has officially committed to John A. Logan to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level.
Luttrell is coming off a senior season with the Russell County Lakers where he was an integral part of the team’s historic run to a state runner-up finish.
He went 12-1 with one save on the mound this past season, striking out 136 batters compared to only 12 walks in 75 innings pitched. He only allowed 50 hits, 26 runs, and only nine earned runs for a 0.84 earned run average.
Luttrell had some stellar outings in the postseason to help the Lakers make it to the state championship game.
In the 4th Region semifinal game, he came in relief after a long rain delay against Bowling Green. In two innings of work, he struck out all six batters he faced. Of the 29 pitches he threw, 19 were strikes.
Then, in the 4th Region championship game, he picked up the win with eight strikeouts and gave up only two earned runs against a hard-hitting Warren East squad.
The southpaw saved perhaps his best outing of the season for the state quarterfinals matchup with Beechwood, one of the best hitting teams in the state. He hurled a four-hit shutout, striking out eight batters in the 1-0 victory.
“I got to face some really good teams on that run to the state championship,” Luttrell said. “That was definitely a good thing to do to get ready for the next level, facing the type of talent I’ll see at the next level.”
Luttrell said he is going to bring a competition-fueled mindset to John A. Logan. Since he is going to a solid program, he knows he’ll have to fight for the opportunity to see the field.
“I’ve got plenty of good players joining me there, so I know it’s going to be competitive,” Luttrell said. “I’m going to have to come in with my head down and fight for that starting spot. I just want to come in and be a competitor and leave everything on the field, win as many games as possible, and be a good teammate.”
Luttrell’s recruitment process has been a long and drawn out one, and with Thursday’s announcement, he said a “big weight’s been lifted off my chest.”
“It feels really good,” Luttrell said. “It’s been a little bit stressful, so I’m glad to have it over with.”
Part of that relief is the fact he knows that he is going to a strong baseball program in John A. Logan, which is located in Carterville, Illinois.
The junior college is noted for its player development program and has ties to Russell County.
Two former Lakers have played for the Volunteers — Tyler Robertson and current RC assistant coach Taylor Grider.
Both players helped lead the team to a conference championship during their playing days, and Robertson won conference player of the year honors.
Luttrell said Grider has been instrumental throughout the recruiting process and spoke highly of the school. He also mentioned that Robertson has reached out and offered to help if he “had any questions at all about Logan.”
“The program has a really good baseball tradition and the best facilities that I saw of any campus that I toured,” he said. “The head coach (Kyle Surprenant) is a great guy, and I talked to him quite a bit. I really wanted him as a coach.”
Luttrell estimated that he had “around 20” official offers, but the final decision crystallized last week.
“I went up there to (John A. Logan on a) visit probably a month ago,” he said. “I really enjoyed my visit. It was a good place with good coaches. After I visited a different junior college last week, I just realized how special John A. was and wanted to take the offer.”
An official signing is tentatively set for next Tuesday.
Luttrell said he’s excited for the next chapter in his baseball career and credited several people for helping him reach this point.
“I’d just like to thank God, my parents, my family, my friends, my coaches, and the community for all the support in getting me to where I am,” he said.
