Published: August 16, 2009 11:35 pm      

‘A great experience’ for 3rd place Brooklyn

A 6-2 loss to New Brunswick sent the Brooklyn Bonnie Rams home Sunday afternoon with a third-place finish and what pitcher Stephen LeTavich said was “a life-changing experience” in the AAABA Tournament.

Al Tampa pitched a complete-game five-hitter for New Brunswick, and Stephen Nappe crushed a third-inning grand slam at Point Stadium as the winner advanced to the championship game against New Orleans.

And Brooklyn players – after finishing 4-2 for the week, including a pair of dramatic wins over Johnstown Delweld

– were upbeat as they packed their gear for the trip back to New York City.

“We’re disappointed that we couldn’t win it. But this was a great experience,” LeTavich said. “Every team here is quality. And coming from a city to a great ballpark like this was incredible.”

After they were eliminated, the Brooklyn players were met by numerous young fans seeking autographs, baseballs, caps – any keepsake from the Bonnie Rams.

“We picked up some fans along the way,” said LeTavich, whose team won the sportsmanship award. “Having people cheering from the stands, all those eyes on you, that was unbelievable.”

Brooklyn’s week included wins over Elk County (9-2), Buffalo (8-3) and Delweld twice (6-5 in 12 innings and 5-0). Their two losses were both to New Brunswick (10-0 and 6-2).

“We were here all week,” said manager Jerry Katzke. “We played some quality baseball and met some quality teams. And we were right in the midst of the tournament. You’ve got to be pleased with that.

“We thought we could come here and win a game or two, but we didn’t necessarily think we’d get this far. But once you do get this far, you want to go all the way. Once you start winning ballgames, you want to keep on winning. That’s the way we felt.”

Katzke said his players will never forget two night games at packed Point Stadium against the Johnstown league champs.

“We talked up the tournament before we came here, and told the kids that if they got lucky, they might get to play Johnstown at the Point,” he said. “To have it happen twice, in two great games, that was a dream.”

Sunday, Alex Maldonado singled and scored in the first and Sean McFadden tripled and scored in the seventh. Kaciem Graham pitched the first five innings, allowing all six New Brunswick runs, before LeTavich allowed one hit over three innings of relief.

LeTavich said the Brooklyn players were very aware of their franchise’s historic connections with Johnstown and the AAABA.

The list of players who have come through the organization, played AAABA ball and eventually had big-league careers is long, and includes the likes of John Candelaria, Rich Aurillia, Shawon Dunston, John Franco, Julio Lugo, Lee Mazzilli, Manny Ramirez and brothers Frank and Joe Torre.

Joe Torre often credits exposure in Johnstown and lessons learned in the tournament for setting him on the path to becoming MVP of the National League and a World Series-winning manager.

“Every game is like a tryout,” LeTavich said. “Just knowing that people from our organization went to this tournament and then accomplished things in their lives, that gives you more incentive. I came in to pitch in the sixth inning, pretty much to close things out. But still, every pitch was meaningful. You never know what might happen.”

Katzke said he and coach Dharyl Russell schooled the players in AAABA history before they arrived in town a week ago.

“Once we won our playoffs back home, we had about two weeks to get ready for Johnstown,” Katzke said.

“We gave them all the history of this tournament – that Brooklyn’s won it four times, that the Cadets won three and Youth Service won it once, and all the names that have come through here. We really tried to instill in them the importance of the tournament. And in the time they’ve been here, they’ve gotten to see it for themselves.”

Russell played in the tournament in 1986 and has been with the Brooklyn organization for 34 years.

“I couldn’t be any more proud of our organization,” Russell said.

“We came here and played well. The town treated us great. The fans embraced us. And I feel humbled by how far we’ve gone.”

Like their coaches, the Brooklyn players now have memories of Johnstown to carry with them.

“We built it up,” Russell said.

“And then the experience exceeded their expectations.”