Offensive output leads Badgers over Oakville Royals 10-6

GUELPH, Ont. - After Friday's games were cancelled due to rain and Saturday's games were relocated due to poor diamond conditions, the Brock University baseball team was finally able to take to the field Saturday afternoon for the start of the Laurier Baseball Invitational Tournament at Larry Pearson Park in Guelph.

The Badgers squared off against the Oakville Royals U18 team in their first game, sending second year pitcher Jason Champ to the hill, looking for his first win of the season.

The Badgers wasted no time giving Jason offensive support, as rookie infielder Shaun Valeriote took one deep for a solo home run in the bottom of the first. Champ (five innings, seven strikeouts, eight hits, four earned runs) looked dominant early, striking out five Royals batters in his first three innings of work, but as the early innings progressed, Oakville's offense rallied, putting up five runs in the process.

Not to be outdone, the Badgers' bats came awake in the bottom of the fifth inning, with an RBI single from Valeriote, rookie Dan Forte's two RBI ground rule double and additional RBI's from Matt Kissel, Craig Jacques and Peter Benvenuto. When the dust settled, the Badgers were back out in front, 7-5.

With strong relief efforts from second year pitchers Kyle Kelsey (one inning, two strikeouts, one hit and one run) and Dave Gardiner (one inning, one hit), the Badgers quelled any thoughts of a Royals comeback.

After bouncing one over the outfield fence earlier in the game, Dan Forte ensured a Brock victory when he smashed a three run shot to centre field in the bottom of the sixth. Offensively, Brock was led by Forte (3-for-3, 5 RBI's, HR, 2B, 3 SB, 2 runs), Valeriote (2-for-2, 2 RBI's, SB, walk, 3 runs) and Benvenuto (3-for-4, RBI, SB, run).

The Badgers' second game of the afternoon was against the Guelph Terriers U17 squad, but as the third inning was about to commence, the dark clouds over Larry Pearson Park opened up. Pouring rain flooded the diamonds and effectively cancelled all tournament games that were in progress.

Unfortunately for the Badgers, the rain spoiled the 10-0 lead they had established over the course of the first two innings against the Terriers. Badgers starting pitcher Steve Hough cruised effortlessly through his only two innings of work and Brock's bats were on fire again, as Shaun Valeriote hit another home run, his second in as many games, this time over the right field fence.

Needless to say, the weather has put a damper so far on the inaugural Laurier Invitational Tournament.

The Badgers will be back in Guelph on Sunday for the finale of the tournament, playing in a re-formatted tournament schedule, looking to ride the momentum they established Saturday. Stay tuned for Sunday's results.