Freshman Murton looks to follow brother's footsteps

Next week freshman Luke Murton will step onto the diamond and start his Tech baseball career while trying to meet the high standards which his older brother, Matt Murton, set just three years ago.

A four-year letter winner at Eagle's Landing High School in McDonough, Ga., 19-year-old Luke Franklin Murton was recruited as a power-hitting first baseman by Head Coach Danny Hall and recruiting coordinator Josh Holliday. He was listed as the 12th best high school prospect in the state of Georgia and posted an unheard-of 1.457 slugging percentage his senior year.

The 6'4", 226 pound 19-year-old also hit .446 in high school and was a member of the 2004 Connie Mack World Series Championship team.

Matt Murton, Luke's older brother and former Tech star, paved the way for his little brother's career on campus.

Matt Murton spent three years at Tech, from 2001-2003, before he was drafted in the MLB first-year player draft by the Boston Red Sox. Over the summer, the older brother saw action in his first major league game, playing in 51 games in leftfield for the Chicago Cubs.

Even though they share the same genes, Luke has been gifted with more of a muscular build and posses great power potential as opposed to Matt, who was very adept at using his speed on the base paths.

Matt was a member of the Jacket team that went to the 2002 College World Series and finished the season with a 52-16 record. Last year's Tech baseball team finished with a 45-19 record but was eliminated in super-regional competition.

"This is still one of the best baseball programs in the nation, and I am happy to be here and play for Coach Hall and Georgia Tech," Murton said.

Despite being acquainted with the Tech surroundings, Murton was still unfamiliar with the strong academics and needed some time to adjust to the rigors of Tech.

"Even though you don't spend as much time in the classroom as you do in high school, you definitely spend more time outside of the classroom, not just doing your homework, but studying and reading, because just going to class is not going to get it done," he said.

"At first I expected that I wouldn't have to attend all of my classes all the time, but I soon figured out that if I don't, I wouldn't be able to make it.very far.I learned that very quickly," Luke said.

The Jackets this season look to continue their strong tradition of winning and getting to post-season play as they return eight starters in the field and eight pitchers who played large roles in 2005.

Murton has ambitious, but not unattainable goals for the team this year. "We try to take it one step at a time. First we want to win the ACC, then the ACC tournament, then get to Omaha. Once we are there, we want to get into the final series and win that as well."

To help the team get to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., the first-base recruit will have to battle for playing time with incumbent starters Whit Robbins and Matt Wieters, who shared time at first-base down the stretch last season.

"When I was being recruited by Tech, they told me the same thing that the are telling me now, that they would love to have me here, and that they would use me where and when they needed me.and that I would have an opportunity to prove myself."

Both Wieters and Robbins spent time playing summer ball, in the Cape Cod League and with USA Baseball, respectively, and have made great strides from the 2005 campaign. Murton will have to show that he is capable of producing out of the gate when he steps onto the field starting next week.

When older brother Matt was given the opportunity to play in the major leagues this summer, he made an immediate impact with the Cubs. In 51 games played, Matt had a .321 batting average and a .521 slugging percentage. With the rise of Matt in the majors, the status of the Murton family was immediately raised, and more pressure was placed on Luke.

"There was pressure on me before too. But once he was called up, it put more pressure on me. But at Georgia Tech a lot of the guys go to the minors and are given opportunities at the next level."

The Jackets look to defend their ACC regular season and tournament championship reigns as they open up the 2006 season next Saturday, Feb. 11 as they travel to Statesboro to face Georgia Southern. The home opener is Fri. Feb. 17 against Kennesaw State.