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August 12, 2009

LeTavich, slam carry Brooklyn

By JIM PENNA

ST. MICHAEL — The Brooklyn Bonnie Rams used an impressive pitching performance by Steve LeTavich to chalk up an 8-3 win over Buffalo on the second day of the AAABA Tournament on Tuesday.

The Brooklyn starter went seven full innings, surrendering just four hits and striking out seven. The power pitcher did it by swallowing his pride and laying off his best pitch.

“Well, they turned out to be a pretty good fastball-hitting team,” LeTavich said. “I learned that the hard way when they started belting a few down my first baseman’s throat, so I had to put some pride aside, I guess, and work the off-speed stuff. You know, throw in the changeup. It’s not easy. I mean, I like to think I can throw it by anyone, but you have to do what works.”

What was not working for Brooklyn were the bats.

Through six innings the Rams had stranded five runners, including three at third base, in what was then a 3-2 Brooklyn lead. Antonio Walcott’s two-on, two-out single provided the one-run cushion for Brooklyn.

“I was getting worried. I have a lot of faith in these guys, but we kept getting guys on base and could not punch home a big one,” said Brooklyn Manager Jerry Katzke. “Games can get away from you if you don’t take advantage of your opportunities. Steve (LeTavich) kept us in this one until we got the big one.”

They do not come much bigger. Byron White delivered a grand slam in the seventh, as Brooklyn scored five runs in the frame.

For Buffalo it was an off-day at the plate, and while the Ken-Hy squad gave credit to LeTavich, Rick Ruggerio’s players left the field knowing they had not brought their best game.

“That is a real good ballteam over there,” Ruggiero said of Brooklyn, “but we just did not swing the bat the way we ordinarily do. Not a good time to go cold, but what can you do? We will put this behind us and be ready for whatever is next because we know we are a better team than the one we played like (Tuesday).”

LeTavich had one more bit of pride to swallow when he was told he would not be taking the mound in the eighth.

“When coach said sit I was like ‘What? This is my game, I want to finish it.’ But he said that’s why we brought these other pitchers along and that there is the right time to make a move and this was it. He was right, you know, but I was so pumped up and into the game I would have thrown 20 innings if they asked me to (Tuesday).”

Ian Karlsson pitched two hitless innings, striking out two.

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