This summer I have the special opportunity to be an intern with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League. The Cape League has the reputation for bringing in the top collegiate baseball talent from around the country.

Coincidentally, the Indiana Hoosiers brought two players to the Cape this summer; SP Joey DeNato and INF Micah Johnson. Recently the Bourne Braves traveled to play against the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, and I was able to catch up with Joey DeNato after the game.

Greg Murray: How has your experience been so far in the Cape Cod League?

Joey DeNato: It’s been a lot of fun. Right now there is a lot of down time, but we start working stuff Monday; working camps, clinics, and all of that. It’s just fun to be able to play baseball every day.

GM: What is your living situation like? Obviously it’s not the same type of situation that you have at IU.

JD: Yeah we have a host mom, Lisa. She takes care of myself and two other roommates [Derrick Chung- Sacramento State and Isaac Ballou- Marshall]. It’s a good time.

GM: What’s the biggest difference playing summer ball here in Cape Cod than playing during the regular season at IU?

JD: I would say the competition. The competition here is obviously some of the best in the country. All of the hitters you face are the top hitters in the nation and all of the pitchers you see are the best too.

GM: Now that you mention the skill level here on the Cape, how do you deal with the pressures of facing the top hitters and the pressure of having different scouts watching you every game you pitch?

JD: You really just have to play your game. You can’t really think about it too much. You know I still get nervous before every game, but you just have to let that get passed you. You just have to focus up there and pitch your game.

GM: You have a big change every year coming to IU all the way out in California. What is the biggest thing to get used to coming all the way to Massachusetts?

JD: There are definitely a lot of bugs.

GM: Micah Johnson is the only other Hoosier playing in the Cape Cod League this summer (Cotuit). Has there been any trash talking or special competitions going on between you two?

JD: Well we have only played them one time so far this season, but I talked to him in between games since we played them in double-header. There hasn’t been any trash talking or anything like that. Maybe there should be.

*DeNato and the Red Sox split that double-header against Johnson and Cotuit Kettleers. They will have three more opportunities to face off against each other. So far this summer DeNato has started in two games for the Y-D Red Sox. He has posted a 1-0 record with a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings of work.