Box Score By Christian Bond, Sports Information Student Writer
PARKLAND, Wash. - Garrett Brown is a baseball coaches' dream. The Alaska native has been a superb bullpen arm capable of shutting down opponents late in games when the outcome is still in doubt.
"Garrett brings confidence and toughness on and off the field," PLU head coach
Nolan Soete said of his senior pitcher. "He's a great teammate because he is always looking to help this team in any way possible."
Brown has helped his team this season by transitioning to the bullpen after making eight starts and compiling a 5-1 record during last year's run to the Div. III South Regional semi-finals.
The results have been everything Soete and pitching coach
Sean Taunt could have asked for. The right-hander has not allowed one run over his last six outings spanning 15 2/3 innings and dating back to March 6 against the Willamette Bearcats.
"After a couple of hiccups early in the season, Garrett realized the No. 1 rule coming out of the bullpen is locating the fastball. Once he started to really focus on that, he saw immediate results," Taunt said. "His mental toughness and attitude is perfect for that role."
With the consecutive scoreless innings streak, Brown's 2.25 earned run average is now best on the PLU pitching staff.
Brown – a geosciences major – will graduate in May. As his time on the field and in the classroom nears conclusion, he's spent some time reflecting on his experience at PLU.
"I came to PLU for a few reasons," Brown said. "The baseball program has great coaching, a winning nature and a brotherhood unlike any of the other schools I had seen. The academics were a major factor as I knew I wanted to be at a four-year institution, PLU is a very good school and I'm only a 3.5 hour flight from home."
After graduating, Brown hopes to pursue the oil and gas industry -- economic staples in his home state.
"I have actually been thinking about all of this a lot lately," Brown said of the upcoming graduation.
"I'm going to miss waking up on Sunday morning and watching NFL games with the guys, staying up late during weekdays cramming for tests, playing PS4 with all my roommates, having practice every day and the luxury of competing for regional and national championships. Mostly, I'm just going to miss all my friends I've made here. I never knew I would have made my best friends here and I'm thankful I decided to come to PLU."
DID YOU KNOW…
…In 2006, Brown struck out 14 batters to lead Dimond-West Little League (Anchorage) to a 1-0 victory over Kent Little League in the Northwest Regional semi-finals.
…Brown was a captain and first-team all-state pitcher in his senior season at Service High School
WHATS ON TAP FOR THE LUTES…
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Wed. 30
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at Pomona-Pitzer
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3:00 PM
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Thu. 31
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at Cal Lutheran
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3:00 PM
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APRIL
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Fri. 1
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at La Verne
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3:00 PM
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Sat. 2
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at La Verne
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12:00 PM
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QUOTABLE…
On the team's trip to California:
"I am looking for us to continue to get better. We're playing some good teams down here and I would like to see us perform well against these quality opponents to carry some momentum into next week." - PLU head coach
Nolan Soete
