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CHRISTINE HOCHKEPPEL/Cape Cod Times Former Bobcat Travis Jankowski has been selected toplay in the 2011 Cape Cod League All-star game. |
Bobcat fans may remember Jankowski as the best batter and base runner the team has known. He ended the season with a .484 average, 62 hits and 45 stolen bases, each leading the team and the entire league. Jankowski was invited to play in the Cape Cod League last summer at the end of the 2010 KIT League season. While there, he saw only limited action as the New England league's season wound down.
Starting the season in the league, Jankowski has proven his all-star credentials and helped the Braves to the second-best record in the league. Besides the second best average at this stage of the season, the 20-year-old Stony Brook (N.Y.) sophomore has more hits than anyone (47), is second in runs scored (24), third in RBI (21) and has showcased his trademark speed and base running with three more triples than anyone in the league (7) and has the fourth highest number of stolen bases (11).
Below is a reprint of a story by Dan Popko of the Cape Cod Times. The story originally appeared on the July 8, edition of the Times.
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| Jankowski |
What a difference a year makes for Bourne’s Travis Jankowski.
The Stony Brook sophomore impressed with a near .500 average for the Marion Bobcats of the (KIT League) last summer and earned a late-season cameo with the Braves last August. In nine games between the regular season and playoffs Jankowski hit .306 for Bourne, but didn’t have a single RBI.
At the halfway point of the 2011 season, the speedy center fielder already has 14 RBIs hitting out of the Braves’ leadoff spot, good for third place in the Cape Cod Baseball League. Sitting one spot ahead of Jankowski is his college roommate, Brewster’s Tanner Nivins. Even though Stony Brook isn’t known for producing a lot of baseball talent, six Seawolves are in the league this summer.
You’ve had a lot of success so far. Why, and and what are the keys to continuing it?
I’ve really got to contribute it to the coaching staff here in Bourne. They changed my swing early on. I started off struggling a little bit, but since they’ve talked to me and tweaked some things I’ve been doing all right. Up here, you know you’re going to struggle against the pitching because it’s the best. You’ve just got to kind of take the mental aspect into the game and not get down on yourself. When things are going good it’s easy to play, but when you start slumping you’ve got to keep your head in it and your mind focused.
You wouldn’t call yourself a run producer, at least not like you’ve been so far. Are you surprised you’re near the top in RBIs?
It’s really cool. At school I was in the seven hole, but up here the leadoff guy. The guys at the bottom of the lineup are getting on base and getting over. If they aren’t on base I can’t drive them in so I’ve got to give them most of the credit.
What would you say your game normally involves?
It’s just speed. I’m always running around, putting the ball in play and getting on base. Usually I’m a run scorer, not the one driving in the runs.
You were with Bourne for the end of the season and the playoffs last year. How did that taste of the Cape League help with the transition coming back this season?
Mainly it kind of just killed my nerves. I wasn’t nervous coming up here at all. I knew the coaches, I got a feel for the competition. (Last summer) was almost like a tryout, that’s how I took it. I knew what to expect (this summer) so it definitely helped.
You’re one of six players from Stony Brook in the league, including (catcher Patrick Cantwell) on your Bourne team. What is that experience like?
It’s always fun to look on the opposing team and see a teammate. My college roommate (Tanner Nivins) is with Brewster. On off days we meet up and hang out. It’s a lot of fun and it really says a lot about the program, too.
Stony Brook used to be known as “that school Joe Nathan went to.” We’re not a big-time school and to have six guys up here on Cape Cod, it just says that we’re getting our name out there and turning into a mid-major school, and hopefully it gets better from here on out.
Any kind of trash talk going on?
Not too much. Usually if there is trash talk, it’s all fun and games. Probably.
Have there been any benefits of this being your second time on the Cape when you step away from baseball?
Yeah, definitely. I know all the hot spots, the beaches to go to, where to take the guys who are first-year players up here. I know where to get food, which is the important thing. Knowing the town is always good.
What sort of things do you like to do off the field?
I like hanging out with my friends. I like golfing and there are a couple good golf courses up here. Of course, there is always going to the beach and getting a tan, going to the gym.
How do you see this time playing at such a high level impacting you going forward?
