Pitching produces winning season for Stan Musial team
By Ken Powers Contributing Writer

Hudson - Pitching isn't usually the key ingredient that wins baseball games in Stan Musial League action, but Hudson has used it to produce a winning season.

Hudson entered play this week with a 15-5-1 record, thanks in large part to a consistent four-man pitching rotation, something seldom seen in Musial ball.

Starters Justin Veo, Andre Laliberte, Josh Buzzell and John Stanton have combined to go 11-3-1 with an earnedrun average (ERA) around 3.00.

Veo is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA, Laliberte is 3-1-1 with a 0.75 ERA, Buzzell is 3-0 and Stanton 3-2.

"Our pitching has really been the key," said Veo, who serves as the team's de facto head coach. "Andre and I usually pitch during the week while Josh and John pitch on the weekends. It's a system that has worked out really well for us."

Laliberte, who lived in Hudson during his formative years, came over to the Hawks from the Marlborough Eagles, a team he created 19 years ago and then folded in February when he realized, based on diminishing numbers, that there was no way to field a competitive team this season.

"Even though I've lived in Marlborough for many years and I created a team there, deep down I think I've always looked at myself as a Hudson townie, so it feels really good to be playing here," Laliberte said.

Veo is a Hudsonite through and through, the only player to have been a member of both the 1999 and 2002 High School Division 2 state championship teams. Buzzell is from Worcester while Stanton drives to central Mass. from Quincy to make his scheduled starts.

While the pitching staff is busy keeping opposing hitters from battering the ball all over the park, Hudson's hitters have worn out the opposition's hurlers.

Center-fielder Bobby Montalto, who bats third in the Hudson lineup, is hitting around .400. Shortstop Casey Rivers is very eff ective as the team's leadoff hitter, batting .300 and setting the tone by getting on base in many different ways. Third baseman Randy Fenton is also enjoying a successful season at the plate, often hitting second.

The Nos. 4 and 5 hitters have been an interchangeable pair all season. Backup catcher Mike Colecchi provides a left-handed long ball threat while first baseman Matt DiTuillio is hitting for power, batting .380.

In addition to handling the pitching staff and serving as the anchor of the team, catcher Marc Exarhopoulos is hitting around .300 for the Hawks.

Sometimes third baseman, sometimes designated hitter, Tony Altieri is hitting about .300 out of the No. 7 spot, and the team is also receiving key contributions from outfielder/DH Connor Ryan as well as second baseman John McLaughlin.

"Another big key has been the financial contributions we've received from Prestige Inc., a local construction company owned by the father of one of our players, Jesse Vermeesch," Veo said. "What they've provided us with has allowed us to just focus on baseball and not have to run around worrying about everything else."