Cory Luckie's passion for community and academics has helped him achieve his captain status on the baseball team.
The senior pitcher was born and raised in Prattville and said in his senior year of high school his choices came down to Auburn, UAB, Samford and Berry College.
He committed to the Tigers in December of his senior year after attending their baseball camp in Auburn.
Luckie majored in chemical engineering his freshman year, switched to biomedical sciences his sophomore year and is now set to graduate and attend medical school.
"It is tough balancing education and baseball, but what I try to tell people is that sometimes baseball helps," Luckie said. "It gives you a set timeframe of when you have to have all of your work done. I think that it helps you prepare for graduate school. It is tough, but I wouldn't trade it for anything else."
Luckie had a few complete starts toward the end of his freshman year, but tore a ligament in his elbow during a start against Alabama.
Luckie had to have Tommy John surgery and sat out his sophomore year.
"The hardest part was definitely sitting," he said. "It's hard to watch everyone play and not be able to help out that much. I really think I got a lot of it though. I learned a lot that year."
While Luckie was going through the rehabilitation process his sophomore year, he made SEC Academic Honor Roll. He said he's since recovered from the damage in his elbow.
Luckie's redshirt sophomore and junior years were filled with quality starts and relief appearances. In 2010 the team reached the NCAA Regional Finals. He appeared in the last game against Clemson, recording one out.
"My favorite moment out of the past four years would have to be during our regional in 2010 when we won the West at Ole Miss," Luckie said.
Luckie said his coaches have helped his progression most in the past four years by helping his mindset going into practices, all while he idolizes pitchers Tom Glavine and Jamie Moyer.
"They are so similar to me that I have to look at the things that they do and bring it to my game," Luckie said.
He said because they are softer-throwing lefties like him they are easier to relate to. Luckie said his favorite pitch is the changeup.
He said this year's team has grown tremendously.
"Our team is very close as a result of practicing together, our retreat we went on during the fall at Tim Hudson's farm and playing more and more," he said. "What we have here is special."
Luckie explained his goals for the season as a team captain.
"My main goal for this season doesn't pertain to performance," he said. "For me, as a team captain, it is for me to make sure that my teammates are mentally ready to play."
He has accepted his role as a relief pitcher this year and knows how he can help the team.
"Pitching can get to be a hard game sometimes, so you don't want to focus on the little things too much," Luckie said.
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