Published: August 09, 2009 12:58 am      

Delweld turns to a familiar face for opener

JOHNSTOWN — Brett Vescovi worked out of the bullpen and won both of his previous AAABA Tournament appearances in each of the last two seasons.

On Monday, the Delweld left-hander will take the mound as Johnstown’s starter in the official opener of the 65th annual AAABA Tournament at Point Stadium.

“I’ve pitched down here the last two years so I think I’ll be used to it,” said Vescovi, a Cambria Heights graduate who attends Slippery Rock University. “But you can’t beat opening night.

“Everybody is watching. It’s a big stage. I can’t wait.”

Vescovi has been one of the AAABA League’s most consistent performers this season with five regular-season wins and another victory in the opening round of the playoffs.

“We’re going to go with Brett. He’s been solid for us all year,” Delweld manager Chris DelSignore said. “He’s 5-1 and a left-handed pitcher. This will be his third tournament. He and (infielder-pitcher) Matt Staub have been with us three tournaments. He’s earned this start.”

Last August, Vescovi pitched

21/3 scoreless innings of relief, striking out three and walking one in a 6-5 victory over Cleveland in Game 3 of the tournament. Vescovi was the pitcher of record.

The lefty also won in his only relief appearance in 2007.

That time Vescovi tossed 12/3 innings in a 13-6 win over Columbus on the second night of the tournament.

Of course, opening night is a completely different atmosphere. All of that hoopla and the potential distractions magnify the importance of Vescovi’s tournament experience.

“You never know what you’re going to get out of that opening night starter,” said DelSignore, who has been to five tournaments with Delweld since 1999 as a manager, coach or GM.

“Brett’s no stranger to this. We’re hoping it’s going to be just another walk in the park for him.”

The junior at the Rock said his approach will be the same as on any other night, though he realizes a packed Point Stadium will be cheering on him and his teammates.

“You’ve just got to concentrate on the game,” said Vescovi, a four-year letterwinner at Cambria Heights who set school records for wins, strikeouts and batting average. “You can’t worry about what everybody else is doing. It’s just another baseball game, really.”

This week Vescovi earned the July Point Stadium Award nomination for his no-hitter over Roxberry Creamery on July 10. Vescovi walked the first batter, and then recorded 21 consecutive outs, just missing a perfect game. A first-inning double play by Delweld’s defense enabled Vescovi to face the minimum 21 batters in the 3-0 win.

“You think back to who did this before you,” Vescovi said of the opening night mound duties. “I’ve waited a couple years for this.”