BROOKVILLE, N.Y. — The LIU baseball team twice in program history has won the Northeast Conference postseason title to qualify for an NCAA Regional. Both times a Turner led them in batting.
Andrew Turner paced the 2018 team with a .346 average, while younger brother
Luke Turner leads the present-day Sharks into their NCAA Regional opener on Friday against host Maryland with a .343 average.
Andrew, currently an assistant coach at NEC-rival Wagner, was on hand at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, Conn., when his alma mater — with younger brother Luke — defeated Bryant in a winner-take-all game on Sunday to punch a ticket to the NCAA tourney.
Andrew's success at LIU, and his makeup, paved the way for Luke to land as a grad transfer with the Sharks this season. Luke graduated last spring from Division III York (Pa.) College.
Luke only had interest otherwise from Central Connecticut State among D-I schools, but LIU coach
Dan Pirillo — who also coached Andrew — knew of the family's makeup and was sold.
"When I was in the transfer portal, since I was a D-III guy, I didn't have many people vouching for me, since I had been at a lower level," Luke said. "Coach Pirillo knew my family. He pretty much took me on my character and the family. Andrew vouched for me. It ended up working out really well. I knew the winning culture here."
Said Pirillo: "I think the family is a tough, hard-nosed family. I know their dad is a former marine. There's something ingrained in that family. Whatever it is, it's worked out here at LIU."
Luke estimated that he attended roughly half of Andrew's LIU games during his older brother's collegiate career.
"Our father was an officer in the Marine Corps. Our mother is an award-winning school teacher," Andrew said. "It was made very clear in our household growing up that you do not play baseball to honor yourself. We were raised to play the game a certain way — to honor the name on the front of your jersey, to serve your teammates and to win. Baseball has never been about personal stats or accolades in our family. That mindset does not lead to championship rings.
"To see Luke help LIU accomplish the best season in LIU history is a culmination of everything we have talked about growing up in our family — it is the reason why you play this game. I know how proud he is of this accomplishment, and everyone in our family is equally as proud of him."
Andrew, a third baseman at LIU, played minor league ball in 2018 and '19 after being drafted following the regional four years ago by the Marlins in the 39th round. He will be glued to Friday's ESPN+ telecast, unable to attend the regional because he is heading up to Cotuit, Mass., later Wednesday to begin his summer assignment coaching in the Cape Cod League.
"There are plenty of other alumni who have said they will be making the drive down to College Park," Andrew said. "They are very excited to support the boys in person, and there will be tons of others watching on TV. We are excited to watch the guys represent LIU baseball, and we are excited to watch them win a few games down there as well."
Luke hopes to begin his professional career in the United States in 2023. He intends to play in Germany this summer, following the completion of LIU's postseason run.
The brothers shared a memorable moment before the finale of an April 14-16 NEC series on Long Island during the regular season. Pirillo sent Luke out to exchange lineup cards with Andrew before the Easter Sunday game.
"I'm pretty close with Andrew," Pirillo said. "I knew that would make it special for them. It was fun to do."
Luke was injured at the time and did not participate in the LIU-Wagner series on the field.
"There were a lot of people there for reasons other than just us, so we wanted to keep it professional on the exterior and not make the whole day about us," Andrew said. "However, on the inside, it was very emotional for sure, and for a lot of reasons. … Mostly, for me, it was emotional because of how proud I was of Luke. Luke has dedicated so much time and effort behind the scenes to become the player and man he is today. To see him on that field, and the way he carried himself despite being injured at the time, made me incredibly proud all weekend."
Added Luke: "That was an awesome moment. We almost teared up at home plate. Our aunt and uncle, mom and dad were all there.
"We took the series, too. So that was cool."
