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Bourne’s Jankowski a Late Addition Gem

07/09/2011 8:40 AM

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BOURNE, Mass--The Bourne Braves have found a gem in the rough for their 2011 season from a late addition on the 2010 roster, Travis Jankowski, a Stonybrook University outfielder.

     The third place Braves (10-10-2) have watched Jankowski hit leadoff since the first pitch was thrown in June. He has produced 26 hits, 11 runs and 14 RBI’s, the most on the team. Plus, his .310 batting average has placed a hit in at least half of the 22 games played.

     Not to mention, the 6-2, 190 pound sophomore has had 8 stolen bases as of July 2nd. This past year at Stonybrook he broke a college record with 30 steals in 34 attempts, making him 14 in the nation.

     The outfielder runs a 6.4 second run in the 60 yard dash. “My speed probably is just from my older brother. He and his friends would always chase me around. So I had to be fast so I wouldn’t get beat up,” said Jankowski.

     Jankowski is also known for showing his defensive skills. He had not one error in 115 chances and made the First All American Team this past season at school.

     “When I was little, Dad always emphasized defense. ‘Defense will get you far in life,’ he said. I always took pride in that,” said Jankowski. Paul Jankowski, father to Travis, Tyler and sister Mandy, played Division 2 baseball at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in college.

     Since Travis switched over from the Marion Bobcats of the Ohio Valley League last summer, he has been in transition to make a mark with Bourne. Last CCBL season he hit .310 in nine games and followed up hitting .358 this past college season with 38 RBI and 19 multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI games.

     While others saw a slump in their game switching from the metal to wood bats, Jankowski credits his coaches for helping him with the transition, making him a standout on the team. “Its all have been about timing and putting the front foot down better,” said Jankowski.

     Where will the Braves be looking down the rest of the season? “We started off slow this year, once we got some full contract players in this year, we have started to bond and we are coming together pretty well,” said Jankowski.