DaytonDailyNews.com

DAYTON — A cadre of fans from Maria Stein rooted hard for Cory Luebke as he pitched the second game for Fort Wayne Tuesday night against the Dayton Dragons.

They and the rest of the fans at Fifth Third Field gave the rookie left-hander an ovation when he was taken from the game with two outs in the sixth inning. Luebke, a former star at Marion Local High School and Ohio State, left with a 3-0 lead after allowing just four hits — all singles — and two walks. He struck out six.

Q: How many people did you have here to watch you pitch?

A: I don't know. A lot. My parents were here, but I didn't go out with them after the game. They had to get back home. It's about an hour's drive.

Q: You were drafted last year, too, by Texas. How did that happen after your sophomore year at Ohio State?

A: I was born two months premature and was small, so my parents started me in kindergarten a year late. I was 21 last year, so I was draft eligible. I was small — maybe 5-7, 5-8 — until I was a junior in high school and hit my growth spurt. (He's 6-foot-4 now).

Q: Did you think about signing with Texas? Why did you return to Ohio State?

A: I didn't have the year I wanted to have at Ohio State, and I decided to play in the Cape Cod League. I learned a lot there (and became Big Ten Pitcher of the Year as a junior).

Q: What was the biggest difference going from high school to college?

A: There was more atmosphere in college. I graduated with 60-70 kids in high school, and there were 50,000 at Ohio State. It wasn't so overwhelming, but I had an opportunity to meet a lot of people. I was also able to concentrate on one sport. I also played basketball in high school.

Q: What was the biggest difference in going from college to pro baseball (taken by the Padres as the 63d overall draft pick)?

A: Coming here, it's more about development (in the minors). It isn't win, win, win. At Ohio State, I threw 100-110 pitches a game. When I went to Eugene (the Padres' rookie team), I was only allowed to throw about 60 a game. Against Dayton, I threw 85 or so. I'm not throwing as much here.

Q: In your first two games with Fort Wayne, you allowed eight earned runs. In your last three games, you allowed two. What happened?

A: Obviously, the competition is better at this level. Those first two games were the worst I've thrown in a year. I might have had a little too much adrenalin going. I worked with the pitching coach and we have two great catchers who have helped me.

Q: Will you go to any OSU football games this fall?

A: Sure. I'll miss the opener with Youngstown State, but I'll be able to see the games after that. I won't be able to get my student tickets, but my cousin, Todd Boeckman, is a quarterback on the team, so I think I'll be able to get tickets.