SHUTTING THE DOOR
Locos' Brewer an intimidating closer
By TOM USHER
tusher@limanews.com
419-993-2089

SHAWNEE TOWNSHIP -- Lima Locos left-hander Damon Brewer tugs at his cap and glares in for the sign.

He has the scowl of a youngster who just noticed his bike was stolen.

Brewer comes right at the hitter with a 91 mph fastball. It slices the inside corner for the strike. Another fastball, another strike.

Next comes a "slurve," which nose dives and dances past the hitter for strike three.

Brewer (Lake City CC) comes right at every hitter with a "here's my best shot" mentality.

With that aggressive approach, it's no wonder that the 6-foot-3, 216-pound Brewer played middle linebacker at Chiles High School in Tallahassee, Fla.

"I think it (playing middle linebacker) has helped," Brewer said of his closer's role in college and with the Locos. "You go after people. It's more intensity and you just have to go after them. Whatever happens, happens."

Brewer recently broke the Locos' team record for saves, which was nine held by Shaun Burchet (2001) and Rony Mercado (2004). Brewer recorded his record-breaking 10th save at first-place Columbus on July 23. He posted his 11th save last Wednesday against Delaware. 

"He comes in and throws strikes," Locos coach and former minor league pitcher Rob Livchak said. "He got a good, hard fastball and wants the ball in that situation. He throws a good, hard fastball and he's starting to get a little movement with that. He's worked in his slider and that's something he's really needed. He also has a change-up."

The Locos (23-14-1) will meet Lake Erie (17-21) in the first round of the Great Lakes Collegiate League playoffs at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Shawnee.

For the Locos, Brewer is 1-0 with a 1.80 earned-run average. He leads the GLCLin saves (11) and appearances (20). In 20 innings, he's given up 14 hits. He has a team-leading 33 strikeouts and six walks.

Brewer played football and baseball in high school. He had a few offers to play college football, but few offered to pay his way.

"I had a couple of D-II schools looking at me (for football), but they didn't have the scholarship money," Brewer said. "I needed the scholarship money, so I went with baseball."

As a pitcher, he began closing games his junior year in high school.

"I got used to it," he said. "I wouldn't mind starting. I've done it before in the summer (AAU ball). Mainly, my role when I got to college was relieving and closing. "I didn't mind it too much. It wasn't my idea, but at the same time, I knew it was a role that needed to be done so I took care of it and handled business."

After his freshman year at Lake City (Lake City, Fla.), he was selected in the 32nd round by the San Francisco Giants. He didn't sign and returned for this past season at Lake City.

"They (the Giants) offered me some money, but I turned it down," Brewer said. "It was just a little over what I was getting for a scholarship, so I decided to keep going to school for now."

Brewer went 3-2 with a 2.35 ERA at Lake City this past sophomore year. He had 65 strikeouts in 54 innings. He made 26 relief appearances and opponents hit .222 against him.

Brewer has signed to pitch at Bethune-Cookman, at Daytona Beach, Fla., in the fall.

This summer, he's been working on what he calls his "slurve," which is a combination curve and slider. His fastball was recently timed at 91 mph.

"I hit 91 in the (GLCL) All-Star Game and that's about the highest I've really hit," he said. "Hopefully, it'll get more consistent as I get stronger and better and I get in the low 90s.

"The slurve is my second pitch and I'm still developing my change-up, but I've thrown it more in the games here than I've thrown it before."

Livchak said, "We worked out a few things with him to get him in the strike zone. That was one of the things he wanted to do. Early, he wanted the ball, but he was getting behind when he first came here. We tried to settle down his leg kick. He's done that and he's more consistent."

Brewer and Locos teammate Travis Jones are living with the Ron Williams' family this summer. Williams has built a complete Wiffle Ball ballpark in his backyard.

Even in the backyard, Brewer is nasty to face.

"I went out the other night and had two saves," Brewer said with a laugh.