summer rewind: something to crow about

(In lieu of one long, meandering season in review, I give you instead several snapshots spread out over the course of a few days that should, together, form a collage that my second-grade art teacher would be proud of. Thus begins part one.)

In the biggest game of Aaron Crow's college career, the Missouri ace allowed seven runs on seven hits in just two-thirds of an inning, setting Louisville on its way to a regional championship. That was June 4. Soon after, with his season over, Crow arrived on Cape Cod, a forgettable night tattooed on his memory.

Two months later, it may not be completely forgotten.

But a summer to remember is pushing for space.

Crow, a 6'2" right-hander from Wakarusa, Kan., authored one of the most dominant summers in recent Cape League history, and, in the process, secured his status as one of the nation's top pro prospects.

He finished with a 3-1 record, helping Falmouth to a playoff spot and a berth in the league championship series. His ERA was .67. He allowed just 19 hits in 40.1 innings, and walked only nine, giving him a WHIP of .70. He surrendered three earned runs all summer. He struck out 36, leaving his K/9 at 8.1 and his K/BB at 4.0. Opponents hit .140 against him.

The only thing keeping him from earning the top pitcher award was his win total, but that didn't hurt his chances for top prospect honors. Crow was undoubtedly on radar screens before this summer, but now he's more than a blip. With his mid-90's fastball, he was practically a shoo-in, and he joins select company. Every winner of the pro prospect award in the last 10 years has gone on to be a first, second or third round pick in the MLB draft.

That's what lies ahead for Crow, but the things in the rearview mirror will not soon be forgotten.

The thing that strikes me most isn't just that Crow is a great prospect, but that he's a great prospect who turned his immense ability into tremendous on-field success. Plenty of prospects struggle on the Cape, and though it may not matter in the long run, it's fun for the present to see a player who puts up the stats to match his talents.

Crow certainly did that.

• His .67 ERA was the sixth-lowest in the last 10 years among Cape League starting pitchers
• His performance in the all-star game -- where he struck out the side in the first inning -- was so overpowering that it became the biggest story of the night, and earned Crow MVP honors
  
• His dominant start in the first game of the playoff semis sent Falmouth cruising into the finals
• His season was amazingly consistent -- he never allowed more than one run in any start
• Though he only had four decisions, Falmouth won five of his seven starts, playoffs included

In all, Crow was nothing short of spectacular, and his dominant performances were part of the fabric of the 2007 Cape League summer.

I only had the pleasure of seeing him once, when he pitched in the playoffs against Bourne. Had I not been aware of stats and awards, perhaps I wouldn't have known what I was seeing. Just another pitcher, giving batters fits.

But I think, somehow, I would have known.

Maybe it was his confidence, the way he carried himself. Maybe it was the way every batter who struck out came back to the dugout shaking his head in disbelief or wonderment or quiet acceptance. Whatever it was, you could tell that Aaron Crow was something special.

And that, you won't forget.