By Sam Blum
July 7, 2014

Luke Leftwich, keeping it simple. Photo by Stephen Arriz

The Cotuit pitching had been lackluster all afternoon. Fourteen hits. Eight runs. Tons of long counts and short outings.

Then Luke Leftwich, the last man in the bullpen came in and stabilized a game that sorely needed it.

“I’ve been keeping it simple, and it’s been working,” Leftwich said. “So I’ll keep trying that.”

Leftwich came in with two outs and two runners on in the sixth and got out of the inning unscathed, and then pitched a scoreless seventh. He got the win after Grant Kay’s walk off won it in the seventh.

After posting a 7.50 earned run average in his first five appearances, Lefwich has posted 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

“It really does (relax me). Obviously having success can lead to more success and builds confidence.”

Confidence was something that Leftwich said he lacked earlier on in the season. He was walking batters and allowing runs at a prolific rate.

He said the key to his success was toning down his repitoire.

“(I need) an attack mind and attack the strike zone,” Don’t try and be too cute with any pitches. Just make them make contact.”

For Leftwich, the change has paid off, and he’s becoming a more reliable late-inning option for Cotuit.