[Photos provided]
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Luke Gold, 17-year-old junior at Ballston Spa, has been playing baseball since the age of four and is a true-blue Yankees fan.
“My dad, Eric, played his whole life and I’ve liked sports ever since I was young, and my dad taught me everything he knew, pretty much,” Gold said, explaining how he got involved with baseball.
On the field, Gold is a star shortstop and pitcher, off the field, he plays the violin in the orchestra at school. Academically, he is in the top 10 percent of his class and attends all honor and AP classes. In the off season, his biggest focus is overall strength and agility and speed work because, “that all helps in a bunch of different parts of the game,” he explained.
In the summer, fishing is his second love. He also plays on Adirondack Heat baseball team in the summer and loves volunteering his time at baseball camps for youth.
“I just love volunteering and helping younger kids at camp because I was in that same position as them at one point. I love being able to pass on knowledge to kids, that’s one of my favorite things to do outside of playing baseball,” Gold said.
He volunteers at All-Stars Academy in Latham and for the camps that are run through his high school. Gold has committed to Boston College with a baseball scholarship.
“I loved everything about the school. I wanted to go somewhere with good academics, because I’ve always been a pretty good student, and I really like their coaches and the philosophies that they preach there. They are also in a really good baseball conference, so I’ll be really challenged in a lot of different aspects there,” he explained.
He is unsure which major he will pursue, but both of his parents, Eric and Julie, are doctors so that may be where he is also headed. He has seen lots of support throughout his baseball career, including his grandfather, Will Gold.
“My grandfather is a big supporter. He goes to every one of my games that he can. We’re going to Georgia this summer for a tournament with my summer team and he’s planning to fly down with us. He just loves watching my siblings and I play as much as he can. It’s awesome,” he said.
Above all, he cites his parents as being his biggest fans.
“They give me everything I need to succeed, whether its material goods or motivation. They’re always giving me advice and helping me and trying to do what’s best for me,” Gold explained.
