Kalush, a junior-to-be at Santa Clara University, was just that, finishing the second half of the season as the closer for the Harwich Mariners, which won the Cape Cod championship for the first time since 1987. Kalush, 20, figured prominently in Harwich’s unlikely journey to the championship, finishing 1-1 with four saves and a 1.60 ERA. Opponents hit only .250 against him as he struck out 19 over 25 innings.

While the championship-clinching game last Thursday was a thrill, Kalush’s personal highlight came a couple of days before in the semifinals, when the 6-foot, 180-pound right-hander tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings of relief in the Mariners’ 1-0, 18-inning win over Orleans — the longest game in Cape Cod history — to send Harwich into the championship series. The Mariners scored the only run of the game on a dropped fly ball, a surreal moment to an incredible game.

“It was probably the best experience I’ve had in baseball, a special experience,” Kalush said. “I’ve never faced competition on a daily basis as tough as the Cape Cod. From what I’ve heard this league is the equivalent of (professional minor league) rookie ball. Having success has given me a ton of confidence because I didn’t have a particularly good (sophomore) year at Santa Clara.”

After an impressive freshman campaign, Kalush suffered through the proverbial sophomore slump for the Broncos, as his ERA skyrocketed from 3.13 to 5.80. Even though he was third on the team in wins and strikeouts, Kalush was disappointed in his performance.

Kalush chalked that up to a lack of consistent mental preparation. But if there’s one thing Kalush learned over the summer, it was to be mentally focused no matter how grueling the schedule got. Due to a number of rainouts, Harwich at one point played for 32 straight days, and totaled 44 games played over a 56-day stretch. No doubt it was a primer for what he’ll eventually face in the minor leagues.

“Grinding it out really made you stay on top of things as far as being focused,” Kalush said. “Now I feel I can have success with any hitter. Hopefully the success I had can translate to the college season and then into the draft.”

Kalush will be eligible for the Major League Baseball Draft for the first time in 2009. The best-case scenario would be for Kalush to have a breakout junior season and sharpen his mechanics. As it is, he’s got pretty impressive “stuff,” with a 90-94 mph fastball, change-up and curve. The change-up is the perfect complement for his fastball, because his delivery is the same as his fastball only the ball travels at around 78 mph, and it sinks down and in to right-handed batters.

At the end of his sophomore year Kalush developed a curveball, which was crucial to keep batters guessing and making him a more complete pitcher. Over the last two summers Kalush couldn’t have asked for anything more. Last year he played in the Alaskan Summer League for the Mat-su Miners, who won the championship.

College pitchers like Kalush who play in the top summer leagues have to love their situation, for the simple fact that hitters hit with wood bats instead of aluminum. That definitely separates the men from the boys, and only the very best college hitters still possess home run power with wood.

“You notice the difference in that balls that would normally go for home runs with aluminum go for doubles and into the alleys with wood,” Kalush said. “At the beginning of the season hitters are a little tentative getting used to the switch. But you’re talking about the very best hitters who play in the Cape Cod, and they make adjustments pretty quick. You have to locate your pitch or they’ll hurt you.”

While the ’09 college season is many months away, Kalush is already thinking about next year and the possibilities that loom on the horizon.

“I feel I’ve put in the time for a lot of good things to happen,” he said. “The last two years (in college and the summer) I’ve developed and matured, and I think I’ve set myself up to go in the right direction.”