Langenbrunner swaps hockey stick for a bat

by Kevin Kotz
News-Tribune staff writer

CLOQUET -- Jamie Langenbrunner is glad to just feel like a high school senior again.

Langenbrunner was behind the plate Thursday playing catcher for Cloquet as the Lumberjacks beat Proctor 5-0 in a Lake Superior Conference baseball game.

There was no special treatment for the prized prospect of the National Hockey League's Dallas Stars. Last week, Langenbrunner was the houseguest of Stars coach Bob Gainey. Thursday, Langenbrunner still needed to concentrate on blocking pitches in the dirt and keeping his head level when trying to hit a curveball.

"It felt good to be out playing ball again," Langenbrunner said. "Baseball is a good break from hockey. It's a lot more relaxing, and there's a lot less pressure."

Langenbrunner spent most of his senior year as a member of the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League, an intermediate step to the NHL. The first-line center led his team in scoring with 38 goals and 63 assists.

"It was a great learning experience for me," Langenbrunner said. "I missed my family and friends -- it was tough being away when Cloquet played its first hockey game and then when they were in the playoffs -- but I wouldn't change anything that I did.

"I get to go to training camp with the Stars in the fall. I'll probably end up in Peterborough again next season. I just want to keep getting better and get to the NHL as soon as I can."

Langenbrunner returned to Cloquet on April 4 and regained his high school eligibility after sitting out 15 days. He was in the starting lineup Thursday, going 1-for-2 with a run scored and three stolen bases. Langenbrunner helped Cloquet's four-run fourth inning with a sharp single to left field, the first hit of the game.

"I was kind of shaky at first. Today was the first time I've caught a pitched ball this season and I let a couple of them get away from me. But the way Luke was pitching, he made up for my mistakes."

Luke Giacomini was nearly perfect on the mound. The junior left-hander allowed one hit and struck out 12 in the complete game shutout. He worked out of trouble in the sixth inning. Proctor, 3-1, loaded the bases with one out but Giacomini got back-to-back strikeouts.

"Luke pitched a great game," said Cloquet coach Jim Novak. "He was kind of upset with me because I DHed for him. He's a big, strong hitter, but I wanted Luke to concentrate on his pitching and he did.

Jamie did a good job handling him. He's the type of kid you long for behind the plate. He has a strong arm and is very mature. We look for Jamie to be one of our leaders like all of our six seniors."

Langenbrunner is looking forward to graduating with his classmates and winding up his baseball career with Cloquet, which is off to a 2-1 start.
 

"When Jamie signed with the Stars and agreed to go to Peterborough, it was with the understanding that he could come back for the rest of the school year," said John Langenbrunner, Jamie's father. "Now he gets to be a high school kid again -- playing baseball, hanging out with his friends, going to the senior prom... Jamie's growing up so fast. He needs this time because soon it will be gone."

(Duluth News Tribune, April 22, 1994)