LAPLACE – Mike Bonura explained what a “cutter” is the other day. “It’s a pitch that breaks about six inches. It throws the batter off, but I don’t throw it well. It’s Wag’s (St. Charles Catholic High School pitcher and short stop Jason Waguespack) pitch.” If Bonura’s best pitch is not the cutter, then it must be everything else. A rising junior at St. Charles Catholic, Bonura is one of the ace pitchers on coach Paul Wag-uespack’s American Legion Second District championship team, the St. Charles Catholic-based Cretin Homes. The summer season came to an end Sunday morning when the Summer Comets lost to Archbishop Rummel High School-based Schaff Brothers in an 11-7 slugfest. Bonura, a Destrehan resident, pitched for six innings, despite being sick. Bonura got into baseball when he was 6 years old. His brother, Courtney Bonura, was a major influence in his baseball career. Mike Bonura described his brother as a good player and a good pitcher. Despite his talent and a number of offers to play in college, Courtney is not playing baseball in college. “I’ve been playing since I was 6, and grew up playing it,” said Mike Bonura. “My brother helped me out. He showed me pitches. We would go out into the yard. He still teaches me a couple of things.” In addition to baseball, the younger Bonura also plays basketball. He has played football, but is opting out of playing this year. Bonura said the chances of sustaining an injury and not being able to play basketball and baseball make it not worth playing on the gridiron. An excellent student, he maintains a 4.0 grade point average at St. Charles Catholic. Bonura said being able to maintain one’s grades and excel at athletics is a matter of dedication. “It’s just desire,” said Bonura. Aside from playing baseball, Bonura hopes to get a degree in an engineering field, preferably either chemical or mechanical, choices which are not surprising when one learns his favorite subject is math. Bonura’s goal is to play at the next level in college. “I’m going to try to get there,” said Bonura. “If they allow me to I’m going to go. I wouldn’t mind.” He also wants to play professionally, but is not looking that far into the future. Bonura maintains a humble attitude to the steps necessary for one to play baseball at the highest level. “I take it one step at a time. I can’t jump from one through 10, I have to go through all the numbers,” he said. As for that highest level of baseball, Bonura feels the Seattle Mariners probably have the best chance of all the major league teams to win the World Series this year, though the New York Yankees are a safe bet. But moreso than any winning tradition the Yankees might have Bonura wants a new team to win the pennant. As to where he will attend college, Bonura has no special preferences. He mentioned a regional preference for LSU, but dismissed limiting himself to one choice. “I will play for anyone who wants me. If you are too picky and choosy you will suffer the consequences. You have got to go with the flow,” he said.