• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jul 4, 2009 - Page: 1C

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

For anybody who played baseball as a kid, you know.

There’s really no such thing as a summer vacation.

Between practices, games and the always present directive to never, ever swim on game day, there isn’t a whole lot of time for relaxation.

That’s how LSU sophomore Anthony Ranaudo grew up in New Jersey, so he’s never thought twice about one baseball season leading directly into the next.

Until now.

The 6-foot-7 right-hander will take this summer off from baseball, a precautionary move to make sure his talented pitching arm has a chance to rest and recover from a busy college season.

During a spectacular 12-3 sophomore season, Ranaudo threw 1241/3 innings — doubling the most he has logged in a season. He struck out 159 hitters to lead the Southeastern Conference, walked 50, and limited foes to a .209 batting average.

All of that added up to a weary body, an arm pushed to its limit more than ever before and a decision reached among Ranaudo and LSU coaches Paul Mainieri and David Grewe to shut things down until late August when fall classes resume at LSU.

To do so, Ranaudo had to decline an invitation to pitch for the USA Baseball National Team. He said that was a tough call, but one he knew was best for the future — his and the Tigers’.

“I know how important I have to be next season for my team, and it’s also important to my arm and my overall health to make sure I’m as ready as I can be,” Ranaudo said Thursday. “I need some time to rest.”

Lazy days at the beach on the Jersey shore, lots of sun and swimming without worrying about the consequences.

“I’ll try to do some things I haven’t been able to do, now that I have some time,” said Ranaudo, who will spend most of the next several weeks in Jackson, N.J. “I’m going to work out in the mornings, get my running done and then go and hang out with my family. I’ve got four nieces and nephews I don’t get to see very much, so I’ll spend a lot of time with them.”

Not that baseball will be completely removed from his mind.