ENGLISH, WE THINK

A call went out for translation requests before the U.S. baseball team’s news conference after Friday’s bronze-medal game.

“Japanese? Spanish?” a volunteer asked.

None was needed, though, until designated hitter Matt LeCroy of Clemson University was asked about his four-homer, 10-RBI performance in the tournament.

“I don’t know,” LeCroy answered in what could be described as good-ol’-boy patois. “I just try to swing hard every time I go up and hope to hit it.”

Coach Skip Bertman quickly leaned forward to the microphone.

“Interpreter?”