Baseball ends preseason with 7-1 record

WATERLOO, Ont. - The Brock University baseball team closed out the preseason with their final two games of the Laurier Invitational Tournament, which had to be adjusted due to poor weather. In their first game they dropped a 5-4 decision to the Intercounty Terriers before going on to defeat the host Laurier Golden Hawks by the score of 6-2.

In Game 1 against the Terriers, Brock took an early lead with an RBI double from newcomer Shaun Valeriote (Guelph, Ont.) and RBI single from sophomore Mitch Peragine (Hamilton, Ont.) scoring freshmen Chris Anderi (Tecumseh, Ont.) and Jeff Costa (Mississauga, Ont.). Freshmen Nick Anton (Brampton, Ont.) and Kyle Gappa (Hamilton, Ont.) would also come across to score giving Brock a 4-0 lead.

Peragine led the Badgers offense going 2-for-3 with an RBI and stolen base. Costa also collected two hits including a perfectly placed bunt down the third base line. Interestingly, Mitch was not the only Peragine on the field, as Mitch’s younger brother Cole impressed the spectators driving in two runs for the Terriers.

In the field, freshman Kyle Leavers (Burlington, Ont.) made a long run to steal the Terriers of an extra base hit.

The Badgers pitching combination of freshman Nick Baljeu (Sarnia, Ont.), junior Kyle Porter (Pickering, Ont.), freshman Jordan Vecchiarelli (Newmarket, Ont.) and sophomore Noah Anderson (Mount Pearl, NF) were unable to hold the lead, as the Terriers answered with five runs.

In the seventh inning, Costa led off with a bunt single, which was followed shortly by a Peragine walk. With two runners on, Terrier’s lefthander Steve Dressler would end the Brock rally for the 5-4 victory.

In Game 2 against Laurier, newcomer Kurtis Robinson (Mississauga, Ont.) took the ball for his first start against an OUA opponent. Robinson pitched another strong game, striking out five Golden Hawks over three innings of work. His lone mistake came in the second inning when he gave up a home run over the short left field fence.

Robinson’s relief proved just as strong, as the only threat came when Laurier loaded the bases against sophomore Sean Mathe (Milton, Ont.), but was ended on a great double play turned by junior Matt Kissel (Whitby, Ont.) and freshman Peter Benvenuto (Mississauga, Ont.). The freshman tandem of Tyler Harrison (Mississauga, Ont.) and Justin Ayles (Brampton, Ont.) also pitched well in relief.

On offense, the top of the Badgers order led the charge, as senior Justin Parro (Brooklin, Ont.), Benvenuto, and Valeriote went a combined 6-for-9 with four runs scored. Defensively, the infield made a number of strong plays, including newcomer Adam Velocci (Markham, Ont.) playing solid at the hot corner.

On Labour Day, the Badgers will be using their rare day off to get involved in the Niagara community and the Brock community. Some players will be participating on the Brock Baseball float in the Labour Day parade, while others will be helping Brock freshmen to move into residence.