THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Lums’ Landen Thompson setting his sights on the Naval skies
When it came to Landen Thompson’s plans following high school, he was a little unsure of his path.
Sure, he kicked around some ideas of what was next after graduating from Coeur d’Alene High.
Then, Thompson decided to be a part of something bigger.
THOMPSON HAS enlisted to join the Naval Academy, and will leave for boot camp at Great Lakes, Ill., on Oct. 8. After camp, he’ll continue his training in Pensacola, Fla.
“The recruiter came to the school and gave his speech about the Navy,” Thompson said. “A few weeks later, I went to see him in his office and we talked more about it. He went over all the different jobs that they have and different opportunities they have. I went home and thought about it for a few days, did some more research and decided from there. It has always been in the back of my head to join the armed forces, or go into something with firefighting or law enforcement.”
In the Navy, Thompson, who is 6-foot-3, will focus on aerial pursuits.
“I signed up to join the air crew,” Thompson said. “They’re the people that fly along with the pilots in the aircraft and maintain all of the equipment on there.”
Something that he’s been curious about for while.
“I’ve always been interested in those kinds of jobs,” Thompson said. “Those are the kinds of jobs that not everyone gets to do. The fact that I’ve got the opportunity to get to do something like this is pretty cool. It’s a lot different than any of the others in the Navy. It is kind of high risk, and a lot of jobs in the Navy are. But it’s a pretty slim opportunity to get into something like this.”
Thompson admitted he hasn’t ventured too far from Coeur d’Alene.
“I’ve just traveled within the northwest and occasionally to California,” Thompson said. “This will give me a chance to see some of the country as well.”
“He’ll do great in the Navy,” said Erik Karns, who has coached Thompson in both high school and Legion baseball at Coeur d’Alene High and the Lumbermen program. “He’s the kind of guy that takes coaching really well and wants to improve and get better. He works very hard at what he does, whether that’s catching or hitting.”
IN HIS abbreviated senior year of high school baseball due to the coronavirus pandemic — Coeur d’Alene High played two games — Thompson had two RBIs for the Vikings.
“It was kind of frustrating at first,” said Thompson of the canceled high school baseball season. “We’ve been kind of building up for this year for three years. In high school, a lot of people get excited for their senior year and want to put it all out on the table. And it got taken away from us. It was sad, but I’m really glad we’ve got the chance to play summer ball with the Lums. It’s good to get back on the field.”
After playing its first four games at Thorco Field, Coeur d’Alene hit the road to compete over the weekend in Bozeman, Mont., facing the Bozeman Bucks, Yakima Beetles and Missoula Mavericks.
“There’s a lot of other programs that had their season taken away,” Thompson said. “Lewiston (Lewis-Clark) had its season cut. The fact that the Lums stuck with it is pretty cool.”
Due to the pandemic, balls and strikes were called by the field umpire — stationed behind the pitcher — with the home plate umpire located behind a screen offset from the catcher.
“It’s been really different from what we’re used to,” said Thompson, who catches and plays in the outfield. “But they’ve still done a great job considering the circumstances that we have. Other than a few things, it’s kind of felt the same for the most part. Once you get out on the field, there’s not much that really changes.”
Due to the pandemic, one of the team’s bigger tournaments of 2020 had to be canceled.
“In the past we’ve traveled a lot, which we’re still doing this year,” Thompson said. “One bummer is that the Omaha trip (held in conjunction with the College World Series) was canceled. I was really excited for that one this year.”
In Monday’s game against Northwest Premier at Thorco Field, Thompson showed his baseball intelligence in a key moment in the ninth inning for the Lums.
“I just like his intensity,” Karns said. “Last night (Monday), he hit a double to deep center field. We were down two runs (7-5), and he reads a ball in the dirt and takes off to third without hesitation. Normally, that’s a bad play in baseball, but his intensity level is so high that he’s got a motor in him. He really just wants to help this team win.”
That being said, Thompson has tried to have fun with his final moments on the field.
“I’d treat the season the same whether we had a spring season or not,” Thompson said. “Since we didn’t have a high school season, we’re going to treat it like it’s our high school season. We’re the only teammates we’ve had this year, so we’re really going to try and have fun with it.”
“He’s a quiet guy, but really intense,” Karns said. “He’s a competitor, works very hard and leads by example. He’s a great kid.”
Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @JECdAPress.
