Veronesi Throws One-Hit Gem To Lead Berlin Baseball

This article written and reported by Rick Volk

Mike Veronesi knew how to punctuate his own masterpiece.

Taking the mound leading Middletown by a run in the seventh inning Monday at Sage Park, he took matters into his own hands by striking out the side to complete a two-hit shutout to cement Berlin’s 1-0 victory. Veronesi, a junior, evened his record to 2-2, while striking out six Middletown hitters. The gem came exactly one week after his last outing, a strong nine-inning stint against Maloney High in the 16-inning marathon Berlin loss. It was the second time this season the Redcoats defeated the Blue Dragons by one run.

The game’s only run came in the third inning without the ball leaving the infield. With one out, Jeff Sylvester worked a walk. An errant pickoff throw by Middletown pitcher Luke Sorenson moved him to scoring position. The next batter, Alec Norton, smashed a hit off Sorenson that deflected into the infield. Sylvester raced to the plate and looked to be out by plenty until the oncoming throw was mishandled at home plate.

Berlin never advanced a runner past first base for the rest of the game as left-hander Sorenson matched his pitching rival, holding Berlin to just Norton’s hit and three walks.

Middletown threatened with two runners in the first, but Veronesi struck out Max Bradler and then retired Sorenson. In the fourth, Middletown put runners on second and third with one out, but Veronesi ended the threat by retiring Andrew Campbell on a groundball and then Max Molski.

Veronesi got help from Alec Norton’s stop of a ball of the bat of Austin Reeck at second base to close out the sixth inning.

Berlin, now 9-4 on the season, travels to Bristol for games Wednesday and Friday. On Wednesday, the Redcoats meet No. 1 ranked Bristol Central, potentially facing one of the state’s top pitchers, Matt Blandino. Friday’s game in Bristol will be against Bristol Eastern High School.

MIDDLETOWN:

• Jose Ramos cf 3-0-0
  
• Jared Pflaumer ss 3-0-1
  
• Bill Waldner c 2-0-0
  
• Max Barreuther lb 3-0-0
  
• Luke Sorenson p 2-0-0
  
• Austin Rak 2b 2-0-0
  
• Andrew Campbell dh 3-0-1
  
• Max Molski rf 2-0-0
  
• Colin Horn ph 1-0-0
  
• Nick Brenchak lf 3-0-0
  
• Mike Tewksbury 3b 0-0-0 HP: Waldner, Sorenson
  
• SH: Sorenson 
  
• P Sorenson(L) 6IP, 1H, 1R, 0ER, 3BB, 3K 
  

• Daren Grabowski cf 3-0-0
  
• Greg Konowski lf 2-0-0
  
• Mitch Williams 3b 3-0-0
  
• Dante Vasi lb 3-0-0
  
• Dave Condon rf 1-0-0
  
• Kyle Naples ss 2-0-0
  
• Jordan Zima c 2-0-0
  
• Jeff Sylvester dh 1-1-0
  
• Alec Norton 2b 2-0-1 
  
• BB: Sylvester, Konowski, Condon 
  
• P: Mike Veronesi(W, 2-2), 7IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 6K