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WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880 JULY 15, 2021
Sports
PHOTOS | SPENSER HASAK
Lynnfield native and Seton Hall University rising junior Jonathan Luders is now in his second season with the North Shore Navigators.
Luders continues to grow with Navigators
By Mike Alongi
LYNN — Like for most athletes,
it’s been a whirlwind year
for Lynnfield native Jonathan
Luders.
Between pandemic uncertainty,
limited seasons and
adjusting to the next level of
baseball, the former Lynnfield
High star had plenty to go up
against. And yet, he still managed
to come out better on the
other side.
“It’s definitely been a wild
year, but that’s no different than
for everyone else,” said Luders,
who recently wrapped up his
sophomore season at Seton Hall
University. “First of all, I’m just
happy that we had the opportunity
to play, because not everyone
got that. It was great to
grind it out and work my way
into the lineup, and I felt like I
really grew out there.”
Luders was one of the fortunate
collegiate players whose
team maintained a large chunk
of its schedule this year, as the
Pirates played 46 games in the
season. Luders played in 35 of
those games — with 31 starts
— and he hit .231 with a home
run and 12 RBI with an on-base
percentage of .412.
But more important than
the offensive end was Luders’
growth on the defensive side,
where he bounced around from
second base to shortstop to third
base, where he eventually settled.
Having been primarily a
middle infielder for his entire
baseball life, it was certainly an
adjustment.
“I hadn’t played much third
base before Seton Hall, so it
was great to be able to rely on
a great group of upperclassmen
to mentor me through it,” said
Luders. “Guys like Casey Dana
and Bobby Sheppard and all of
the other infielders, they really
helped and I’m grateful for all
the experience I’ve gotten.”
And all of that experience
flowed right into this summer
with the Navs, as Luders has
found himself in a similar position.
He’s seen time at second,
third and shortstop this year,
and he’s only made one error.
“I just want to be ready whenever
the coach needs me and
wherever he needs me,” said
Luders. “I just want to do what
I can to help the team win.”
While his batting average
isn’t exactly where he would
want it as of now (.185), Luders
continuously contributes to
the offense by getting on base,
moving runners along and
scoring runs when necessary.
His nine RBI rank him sixth
on the Navs, while his .380 onbase
percentage ranks eighth on
the team.
“It was a similar story this
year at Seton Hall. I didn’t get
off to the best start offensively
so I just started grinding out
at-bats,” said Luders. “I think
that’s the kind of player I am;
I’m always willing to drop a
bunt or draw a walk or get hit
by a pitch. My goal is to move
runners over, keep innings alive
and bring home runs when I
can.”
As Luders and the Navs come
to the final four weeks of the
season, the push is on to get into
a prime position for the playoff
run.
“We’ve already had a bunch
of games postponed by rain,
so we know that the back half
of the schedule is going to be
jam-packed for everyone,”
said Luders. “I think it’s pretty
wide open across the division
right now, and we’re all really
meshing well, so anything
can happen coming down the
stretch.”
Luders is also looking forward
to his junior season at
Seton Hall, where he’ll welcome
fellow Lynnfield native
and recent St. John’s Prep
graduate Pat D’Amico onto the
Pirates squad.
“It’s exciting to have another
Lynnfield guy coming to Seton
Hall and I’m really happy for
him,” said Luders. “It’s going
to be great to come back after
another year of learning and
gaining experience and bring
what I’ve learned to the Seton
Hall team. If I’m getting better,
then Seton Hall is getting better,
and that’s the goal.”