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Peoria Journal Star, MA
July 24 2014
Ex-BU star Leblebijian helps Lugnuts beat Chiefs, 3-2
By Dave Eminian
of the Journal Star
PEORIA -- Jason Leblebijian celebrated a homecoming, and a victory for
the second straight night when his Lansing Lugnuts snatched a Midwest
League game away from the Peoria Chiefs on Thursday.
The Chiefs took a two-run, shutout lead into the ninth inning and were
one out away from victory when their wheels fell off and they instead
absorbed a 3-2 loss before 4,114 at Dozer Park.
Leblebijian, the former Bradley University player and now Lansing
shortstop, lingered in the Lugnuts dugout afterward, embracing friends
from the grandstand.
"It's unbelievable, to see all my friends and former coaches here
these last two nights," said the first-generation American from an
Armenian family in Arlington Heights. "I think about all the time I've
spent on this field, working, learning the game, preparing to be a
pro. And now I'm here as a pro, and it's so much fun."
It was fun for the Chiefs, too, for 8 2/3 innings.
Peoria second baseman Richy Pedroza made three dazzling defensive
plays, Vaughn Bryan had a single, double and triple, and lefty starter
Chase Brookshire delivered a terrific 93-pitch outing, scattering 7
hits and notching four strikeouts over seven shutout innings.
But the Chiefs collapsed in the ninth, as Lansing tagged relievers
Steve Sabatino and Josh Lucas for three runs -- including the tying
and go-ahead runs when shortstop Cesar Valera threw away a two-out
grounder by Justin Atkinson.
Leblebijian, meanwhile, picked up a single in four trips to help
Lansing's cause.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder was Toronto's 25th-round pick in the 2012
MLB Draft. Now a third-year pro in his first full season of Class-A
ball, he is hitting .230 with three homers.
"Offensively, I still have things to work on, not satisfied and not
where I want to be yet," said Leblebijian, 23, who is a year short of
a BU degree in organizational communication. "This is my first full
year at this level, and it's a grind. You learn how to prepare, and
work through situations."
Bradley has had 17 players drafted by Major League teams -- and two
more signed as free agents -- since Dozer Park opened in 2002.
Leblebijian is the fifth former Bradley Bradley University player to
appear at Dozer Park as a pro -- and the fourth to play at Dozer as
both a collegian and a pro.
He was a two-time, honorable mention All-Missouri Valley Conference
selection in 2010 and 2011. His BU career included 55 games at Dozer
Park, where he hit .284 with two homers.
"The last two nights, I was pretty amped up the first inning or two,"
Leblebijian said. "But I settled down quickly, I have a real comfort
zone in this park.
"And it sure has been fun to see everyone."
http://www.pjstar.com/article/20140724/SPORTS/140729422/10930/SPORTS
July 24 2014
Ex-BU star Leblebijian helps Lugnuts beat Chiefs, 3-2
By Dave Eminian
of the Journal Star
PEORIA -- Jason Leblebijian celebrated a homecoming, and a victory for
the second straight night when his Lansing Lugnuts snatched a Midwest
League game away from the Peoria Chiefs on Thursday.
The Chiefs took a two-run, shutout lead into the ninth inning and were
one out away from victory when their wheels fell off and they instead
absorbed a 3-2 loss before 4,114 at Dozer Park.
Leblebijian, the former Bradley University player and now Lansing
shortstop, lingered in the Lugnuts dugout afterward, embracing friends
from the grandstand.
"It's unbelievable, to see all my friends and former coaches here
these last two nights," said the first-generation American from an
Armenian family in Arlington Heights. "I think about all the time I've
spent on this field, working, learning the game, preparing to be a
pro. And now I'm here as a pro, and it's so much fun."
It was fun for the Chiefs, too, for 8 2/3 innings.
Peoria second baseman Richy Pedroza made three dazzling defensive
plays, Vaughn Bryan had a single, double and triple, and lefty starter
Chase Brookshire delivered a terrific 93-pitch outing, scattering 7
hits and notching four strikeouts over seven shutout innings.
But the Chiefs collapsed in the ninth, as Lansing tagged relievers
Steve Sabatino and Josh Lucas for three runs -- including the tying
and go-ahead runs when shortstop Cesar Valera threw away a two-out
grounder by Justin Atkinson.
Leblebijian, meanwhile, picked up a single in four trips to help
Lansing's cause.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder was Toronto's 25th-round pick in the 2012
MLB Draft. Now a third-year pro in his first full season of Class-A
ball, he is hitting .230 with three homers.
"Offensively, I still have things to work on, not satisfied and not
where I want to be yet," said Leblebijian, 23, who is a year short of
a BU degree in organizational communication. "This is my first full
year at this level, and it's a grind. You learn how to prepare, and
work through situations."
Bradley has had 17 players drafted by Major League teams -- and two
more signed as free agents -- since Dozer Park opened in 2002.
Leblebijian is the fifth former Bradley Bradley University player to
appear at Dozer Park as a pro -- and the fourth to play at Dozer as
both a collegian and a pro.
He was a two-time, honorable mention All-Missouri Valley Conference
selection in 2010 and 2011. His BU career included 55 games at Dozer
Park, where he hit .284 with two homers.
"The last two nights, I was pretty amped up the first inning or two,"
Leblebijian said. "But I settled down quickly, I have a real comfort
zone in this park.
"And it sure has been fun to see everyone."
http://www.pjstar.com/article/20140724/SPORTS/140729422/10930/SPORTS