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Lynn native and St. John’s Prep pitcher Brendan Powicki has set a record with five starts in this year’s Super 8 tournament for the Eagles.
By KATIE MORRISON
BROCKTON — One of the things that stands out the most about the St. John’s Prep baseball team’s run in the Super 8 tournament is the fact that the Eagles have reached the final using an unconventional approach to pitching.
They have no clear ace on their staff, unlike many of the teams in the tournament. Instead, coach Dan Letarte has used several pitchers in every game, each pitching a maximum of two innings.
The approach has clearly paid dividends for the Prep, which pushed the tournament to a final game with a win over Braintree Thursday.
Lynn’s Brendan Powicki has been, more often than not, the first man up in the rotation, and the Prep’s unconventional game plan has earned Powlicki a place in Super 8 history.
Powicki has set a record for most starts in a single Super 8 tournament, starting in five of the Prep’s six games.
“He’s doing awesome. He’s a great kid, the hardest worker,” said Letarte. “He received my coaches award because he works so hard, I’m so happy with his work ethic. And he comes out and he gives us that lead, that start. He’s just a great kid.”
Letarte said that the senior’s leadership is a big reason why Powicki keeps getting the ball in big games. That, and his 6-0 record, which is the best on the team.
“It feels like we hit for him, get runs for him,” said Letarte. “And I love how he sets the tone for the game for us.”
Powicki struggled in his first start against Braintree June 1, yielding six runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings. But since then, in games against BC High, St. John’s Shrewsbury, Xaverian and Thursday’s rematch against the Wamps, Powicki has allowed two runs over eight innings.
Not that it’s been a breeze for the right-hander. Wednesday against Xaverian, Powicki loaded the bases with nobody out. But Powicki kept his composure and worked his way out of the inning, allowing just one run. His teammates then tied the game up in the bottom of the inning.
The situation was similar Thursday. Two walks put runners on first and third with two outs. But Powicki got Braintree’s Sean Casey to line out softly to first. The Prep scored in the home half of the inning and never looked back.
“Escaping jams, for him, he’s been doing all year,” said Letarte. “(Thursday), it gave us a lift. A base hit here or a gap double there, it’s two, three or four runs. But he’s been doing it, and hopefully he keeps doing it.”
Powicki will more than likely get the chance to continue the streak in the final game of the season Sunday night back at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, with two full days for the pitchers to rest their arms.
“I’m going to have to look at it and really consider the arms again. It’s been short rest, but two days is a long way away,” said Letarte. “We may mix up the order, but follow the same approach. It’s been no surprise, it’s been the fourth game in a row that we’ve done that. Some guys have given me more gray hairs than others, but I like what we’re doing, there’s no reason to switch it.”
Throughout the tournament, Letarte has stressed the importance of putting his pitchers’ health first. The situation is no different with the Super 8 championship on the line.
“It will depend on health, that’s first. Then we start assessing,” said Letarte. “If (Braintree) can come back and beat (our approach), then all the credit goes to them.”
