Tutkovics, Brian

Brian Tutkovics – (2007)

 

During Brian’s youth baseball years, he stood out as a hard-throwing pitcher; consistently achieving All-Star and Player of the Week honors. For two consecutive years he was the premier pitcher on two American Legion teams, led by Lorain Sports Hall Of Fame Enshrinee, Bill Tippie, that won two State Championships. Although a resident of Lorain, Brian attended Amherst Marion L. Steele High School to continue his role as a student athlete. As a sophomore, he was named to the All-Southwest Conference 2nd Team. In his junior year, Brian was named 1st Team and MVP of the SWC. For his senior season, he was awarded 1st Team and MVP SWC, and, named 1st Team All-Ohio AAA, the first athlete in Comet history in any sport to receive the honor. His career closed with a W-L record of 17-4 and registered 192 strikeouts; both are still school records.

Brian was attracted to Kent State University because of its history of winning coaches and baseball tradition. He started his career impressively; as he recorded an Earned Run Average of 0.54 in a set-up role and helped his team win the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship for the first since 1964. In 1993, Kent State led the nation in Division I Team earned run average with a 2.37. Brian finished 14th in the nation with a 1.97 ERA and received Honorable Mention in the MAC. The highlight of the year was when he pitched a complete game against powerhouse Western Carolina in the NCAA Mid-East Regionals at Louisiana State University. After rehabbing his arm in the summer of 1993, Brian finished his collegiate career with a 4-3 record and once again the team won the MAC Championship for the third consecutive year.

Perhaps Brian’s career can be summarized by the following:

*”He showed a lot of presence and confidence on the mound, only an injury kept him from being drafted into the Major Leagues. Coaching Brian was an honor; he was dedicated, hard-working, and skilled. Brian contributed to a legacy of outstanding players at KSU that continues today.” -Dick Schoonover- Kent State University Pitching Coach*

*”For four years, Brian played on teams that I coached …. embodied courage and determination …. unquestioned leader of two teams that won two American Legion League Championships …. pitched both ends of a double-header and defeated a previously unbeaten team twice. When you had to win, he was handed the ball.” -Bill Tippie-LSHOF Enshrinee and long-time baseball manager/coach.*

Brian graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor Degree in Sports Administration and also earned a Masters Degree in Sports Management. Presently he is pursuing his teaching certification with the intent to teach and coach baseball at the high school level. He and his wife, Julie, live in Chagrin Falls, Ohio with their two children, Aubrey and Reese.

*WELCOME, BRIAN TUTKOVICS, INTO THE LORAIN SPORTS HALL OF FAME*