Submitted photo Luke Zimmer of Velva delivers a pitch during the 2020 Class B District 3 baseball tournament in Velva. Zimmer signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Jamestown University on Nov. 20.

Luke Zimmer, a right-handed hurler from Velva High School, will be taking his pitching talents to the University of Jamestown in 2021.

As Zimmer tells the Minot Daily News, the process of choosing a college was a rather easy one. Ever since moving to North Dakota from Billings, Mt., back in junior high school, he has been quite fond of the Jimmies’ baseball program. “There were a couple of other schools that were looking at me, but I always knew I wanted to play for Jamestown,” Zimmer says via telephone. “They have one of the best NAIA programs in the nation, and as a kid, you are naturally attracted to the best teams. I’ve been watching their games on Youtube, and always trying to look up the box scores to see how they are doing. It’s quite humbling to know I’m going to get to play for them now.”

Coming from an athletic family, Zimmer’s older brother Jacob once played baseball for Williston High School, and his older sister Corrisa also played golf for the Jimmies at the collegiate level. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder currently boasts a high school earned run average of 2.08 and was a member of a Velva squad that qualified for the Class B state tournament in 2017.

Although Zimmer has enjoyed individual success at the high school level, he maintains that overall team success is the most rewarding aspect of his time spent on the baseball diamond. “I am most proud that we’ve helped build this program into perennial region contenders,” the high schooler adds.

While Zimmer had to sit by idly earlier this year as the pandemic wiped out the North Dakota High School Activities Association spring sports season, he did compete in summer baseball with the American Legion. In that season, Zimmer amassed over 80 strikeouts and helped his club to a state tournament appearance.

The senior pitcher admits he felt more pressure than usual this past summer because Legion ball was the only opportunity for he and his teammates to play any form of competitive baseball in 2020. “Usually, the atmosphere for the American Legion is more relaxed, but this year our summer season carried even more importance, so we knew we had to come out firing on all cylinders right from the start,” Zimmer says.

A fierce competitor who hates to be taken out of a ballgame, the Velva standout also boasts a 3.98 grade point average and plans to take up microbiology in college. Working diligently on his pitching arsenal as well as his academics, Zimmer reveals his aptitude for tossing changeups and curve balls will allow him to make the most of his college experience. “I’ve been in love with science forever, and microbiology is a very diverse field with plenty of exciting opportunities. Baseball is definitely fun, but I am very focused on getting a great education and I want to take advantage of the fantastic things Jamestown has to offer,” the pitcher continues.