ABOVE: Lucas Larson.

TRIMONT — Martin County West’s Lucas Larson returns to the diamond for his senior baseball season as a Maverick.

Under new head coach Jon Traetow, Larson hopes to play a big part as the Mavericks embark on their 2025 campaign and look to have a turnaround season.

While Larson is a dual-sport athlete and ace pitcher, Traetow said he sees more than just a strong athlete.

“He is one of the kindest, good-natured students I’ve ever met,” said Traetow. “It’s a direct reflection of his awesome parents. I couldn’t be prouder of the individual he has chosen to be. He does everything the right way.”

Larson uses his athletic prowess to add depth across the board for MCW athletics.

“My family’s always been an athletic family, big supporters of sports,” said Larson. “My dad used to be a big baseball player. He loves that sport. So that’s why I’ve picked up on that one the most, but also probably football. My family’s also big in football, and my family’s mostly a wrestling family. I always just found fun in basketball.”

It’s the combination of the physical and mental sides of baseball that Larson loves most about the game.

“It’s not just a physical sport,” said Larson. “There’s also like a mental state of the sport that you have to figure out. So it’s not all just strength.”

When Larson takes the mound for the Mavericks, he focuses on the things he can control, taking note of what each batter he faces likes to swing at and what they don’t. The most challenging part is making sure his arm is completely ready for each game.

“[It’s] just preparing your arm to be full-strength every game,” said Larson. “That’s always the tough part. Then just figuring out the batters through the first couple of at-bats that you get to face against them, figuring out what not to throw them again.”

In the offseason, when Larson is not involved with the other two sports he plays, he works on honing his skills on the diamond with his dad and sister.

“In the summers, me and my dad always go out in our yard, play catch, take some

grounders,” said Larson. “We have a tee and a net that we always hit off. My sister also does that with us. So that’s pretty nice. She’s a first baseman, so she hits grounders to me and I throw it to her. It’s just a perfect little rotation.”

After the 2025 season, Larson plans to attend South Dakota State University to continue his education. In the meantime, he spends his free time playing video games and hanging out with friends. Though Larson enjoys golf, he avoids it during baseball season so he doesn’t mess with his swing.

Larson has big goals for himself and the team this season as they try to make a deep run into the playoffs.

“Going over .500 and winning a couple of playoff games, that’d be great,” said Larson. “That would be amazing. My [personal] goals to get all conference this year, bat over .350 and get all section again.”

The Mavericks head to Searles Ballpark to take on Madelia Thursday in a 4:30 p.m. Valley Division game.