St. Laurence senior Cory Les has been playing shortstop since he was a little kid.
But he’ll take on any role necessary on defense for the Vikings, who are looking to win a state title in Class 4A this spring. Last year, Les played center field and third base and pitched as St. Laurence won the 3A state championship.
On April 28, Les hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs as St. Laurence thumped host Mount Carmel 18-6 in six innings in the Catholic League-Blue.
“I’ve always been taught to play anywhere,” Les said. “There’s no one definitive spot that’s my natural position. I’ve played shortstop my whole life, but I can play anywhere and it looks natural.”
Senior Daniel Coyle finished with a grand slam, three hits, three runs and seven RBIs for the Vikings, who finished the week 24-1 overall and 8-0 in the conference.
Seniors Mickey Lotus (four runs), Sean Popp (RBI, three walks) and Orlando Vazquez (two runs, RBI) and juniors Tristan Steger (two-run homer, three RBI), Evan Panther (two RBIs) and Ryan Lotus (double, two runs) also had big days.
Les, a Louisville baseball recruit, was also a standout running back/defensive back on the football team.
He’s grown up playing with Coyle in travel ball in baseball and even at a young age, was always looking for a challenge no matter the competition.
“It’s not being afraid to play multiple positions,” Les said. “Me and Daniel would play anywhere we could. We’d play up with older teams. It’s just taking any opportunity we could to learn the whole game. That was something that was ingrained in me since I started playing.”
Coach Pete Lotus said he knows wherever Les is, at the plate or in the field, he’s going to deliver.
“The big reason we put him at short is his leadership,” Lotus said. “We know he’ll talk and instill confidence. He’s having much more consistent at-bats. Last year was great for him hitting in the four-spot where he had to figure things out and see how he’d get pitched.”
Les’ homer was his ninth of the season. His two-run bomb put the Vikings up 13-1 in the bottom of the third.
He had four homers last season.
“I feel great (hitting). I know the power comes with having a simple contact approach,” Les said. “I try to let the pitchers supply the power and extra bases come. I stay through the back side, be simple and good results come with it naturally.”
St. Laurence lost senior first baseman Adrian Perez to a season-ending injury, and Coyle suffered a torn UCL in his throwing elbow. Unable to play third or pitch, he’s switched over to designated hitter.
Les said the team battles on with new players stepping into bigger roles.
“It took us a minute to find our identity of our offense,” Les said. “It’s finding out who we are, having to play small ball and figuring out the lineup a little bit. It’s getting guys in the right spots to do their best and get pitches they want.”
Coyle is set to undergo Tommy John surgery in mid-June after the season. A Lewis recruit, he is a four-year varsity starter.
“I can’t make the injury worse,” Coyle said. “I’m going to go out, play the rest of the season and see what happens. It’s going to be a big season. We have studs on this team. I need to be here for it.”