Senior right-handed pitcher Lukas Touma is in his second year with the Panthers. Touma went to high school at WL Mackenzie Collegiate Institute located in Toronto, Canada. 

The first school Touma committed to was University of South Carolina Upstate, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Touma was with the Spartans during the 2021-2022 seasons until he transferred to Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. 

Although he enjoyed his experiences in South Carolina and Missouri, Touma hit the transfer portal again and committed to Eastern after visiting Charleston and sensing a homey feeling on Eastern’s campus. 

In this Q&A, Touma talks about his experiences at three different colleges, the biggest strength amongst the pitchers and what he loves about Sicily, Italy. 

Q: When did you first start playing baseball? 

A: “I started when I was around 9 years old. I first played in a league when I was 9, but I remember when I was 6 or 7, my mom got me a bat, so I’d just be in the backyard and throw it up and hit it. My parents were like, ‘Maybe we should put this guy in a league,’ so I joined a league. Each year after that, I kept progressing and kept playing, fell in love with it, and here we are.” 

Q: Why did you commit to USC Upstate coming out of high school? 

A: “It felt like a right fit. It was tough because it was during COVID, so I couldn’t visit the school. I was originally committed to a junior college in Missouri, Jefferson College, but I was still obviously looking to go D[ivision] I. That was my goal when I started playing baseball. I was talking to a couple of schools, and a lot of them obviously couldn’t see me throw because everything was shut down, but USC Upstate was one of the schools that was like, ‘You know what? We like what we see on video, so we’re going to offer you,’ and I really wanted to get out of the cold, I can’t lie. So I accepted the offer.” 

Q: How did you like USC Upstate? 

A: “It was good. It was a good introduction to college for me. There wasn’t a lot of campus life, which I didn’t love, but I was there for baseball, so that was the main thing. It definitely presented its challenges. Obviously being away from home for the first time, it was a big adjustment, but I did like it, and it helped me for where I ended up going in my baseball career. Obviously in the end, it didn’t work out there, but I learned a lot which is what I’m always grateful for.” 

Q: Pancakes or waffles? 

A: “I’ll go pancakes because my dad makes phenomenal pancakes. I don’t know what he does, but he does something, and they’re just unbelievable.” 

Q: Do you put anything on your pancakes? 

A: “I’ll switch it up. Syrup or jam.” 

Q: Why’d you transfer to Three Rivers College? 

A: “The offer was really good, and there were a lot of connections between them and the organization I played with at home. The coaches that I trust a lot said that it could be a good place for me to go in and showcase your skills. I always knew I had the talent, but I didn’t get a lot of opportunities at USC Upstate, and my end goal was to get back to the Division I level. When I was in the portal that summer, I didn’t do very well in summer ball, so I was like, ‘Okay, I need to go somewhere where I can throw and get the opportunity to showcase myself,’ and I felt like that was the best place I could’ve gone. It worked out very well. I loved my time there. I was only there for a year, but it was a great time, and it kind of recaptured my love for the game.” 

Q: Who’s the funniest person on the team? 

A: “We got a lot of them. I would probably go with Mike O’Conor.” 

Q: Why did you commit to Eastern? 

A: “I was actually able to come on a visit when I was looking for another school. It was pretty early in the recruiting process, and coach [Jason] Anderson wanted me to come down on a visit. I came down, and it immediately felt like home. I loved all the coaches I met, and it felt like this was a place I can come and contribute right away and help the team.” 

Q: Who’s your favorite MLB team? 

A: “The Toronto Bluejays.” 

Q: Do you think the Earth is round or flat? 

A: “Probably round. I know people have their theories, but it’s definitely round.” 

Q: How do you feel like last season went for the team? 

A: “Last year was tough for us. Obviously coming off a NCAA Tournament bid, we had pretty high expectations, and a lot of things didn’t go our way. I thought we had a really talented team, but we battled a lot of things, like injuries. I found a lot of things didn’t go our way throughout the year. Obviously, we didn’t do as well as we wanted to, and it was a tough year for us. I think this year will be a lot different.” 

 Q: What do you think is the biggest strength amongst the pitchers? 

A: “I’d say we have a lot of guys that have really good stuff. I think a big problem we had last year, myself included for sure, was our ability to throw strikes. We’d walk probably more than we should’ve, and I think this year, we’ll be a lot better at that, like being more competitive in the zone.” 

Q: What music do you listen to? 

A: “Rap, predominately rap.” 

Q: Do you have a favorite artist? 

A: “Travis Scott and Drake.” 

Q: Who won between Drake and Kendrick Lamar? 

A: “Drake. That’s my guy, I got to stick by him.”  

Q: If you had the power to bring one celebrity on Eastern’s campus, who would it be? 

A: “I’d probably say Michael Jordan. I think that’d be pretty cool.” 

Q: What’s your favorite memory within Eastern’s program? 

A: “I’d say going into Lindenwood the last weekend of the year. Obviously, the year hadn’t gone how we planned for it to go, but we still had a chance to make the conference tournament, which I think became our goal later in the year. We had the chance to write out own path, and all three games were pretty close, if I remember correctly, and we ended up sweeping them which was awesome. We clinched the playoff, and we got to complete our goal. Seeing the team rally around each other to make the playoff was probably my favorite memory.”  

Q: Who on the team are you giving the aux to? 

A: “Tyler Castro. He’s got a good aux. He’s well versed, and he knows what people like.” 

Q: How do you like your steak cooked? 

A: “Medium rare.” 

Q: Where’s the best place you’ve ever been? 

A: “Probably Sicily in Italy. That was pretty cool. Me and my friend did a two-week tour in Italy, and we traveled around different places. I found it was more authentically Italy is Sicily, which I like the most. 

Q: In a perfect world, what would be your postgame meal? 

A: “Chicken Alfredo.” 

Q: Who do you think the greatest baseball player of all time is? 

A: “I know I didn’t watch him, but I’d say Barry Bonds. I know he took steroids and all that, but even before that, he was insanely good. You can’t really teach the stuff he was amazing at. Obviously taking steroids makes you stronger, but talent wise, he was the best that ever played.” 

Q: Knowing everything you know now, what would you tell 10-year-old you? 

A: “I’d say work hard at everything you do. Don’t take shortcuts. Whatever you’re doing, put your best foot forward. From a sport perspective, I’d say be coachable, like never think you know too much. Always listen to what your superiors and teammates are saying. You can always better yourself in some way.” 

Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or at zhflippin@eiu.edu.