RallyNorth.net

Central's unheralded Valenti can no longer be overlooked

Thursday, April, 17 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

Every afternoon, every practice, every time Roberto Valenti and his Central Catholic baseball teammates hit the diamond at Mount Vernon Park in South Lawrence represents an opportunity.

Valenti, who grew up just a relay throw away from the park, could tell his suburban mates about the glory days with South Lawrence West, reminisce about the pre-high school heroics.

Little League, Senior League, talk about tales to tell.

Valenti's teammates are still waiting.

"Really, I was never the all-star or MVP type," said Valenti, the ultimate late bloomer on the baseball field.

Valenti, who helped the Raiders to a 10-4 win yesterday over Haverhill, can take pride in the giant strides he's made over the last couple years. Last year as an unheralded junior he batted .480, third highest in the region.

Next season, he'll take the live bat, the speed on the basepaths and the impressive fielding skills to the University of Southern Maine. The coaches at the traditional New England Division 3 college power didn't need to see the Babe Ruth League resume to be sold on Valenti.

"I could tell from the start of the recruiting process, that was the school that wanted me most," said Valenti, who closed out the Hillies yesterday with a pair of scoreless innings on the mound. "Their coach called me every Sunday, just to see how things were going. It came down to them and Bentley, but I could tell that was the place I wanted to be."

Valenti's baseball career almost never happened.

"My tryout last year was pretty brutal," said Valenti, who is off to a 3-for-13 start while moving to the No. 3 spot from the leadoff position a year ago. "I started the year on the JV, and to be honest, I probably didn't even deserve to make that team."

The sprinter attributed the poor tryout to his focus on the winter track season.

When Central struggled early at the plate last spring, though, Valenti got the call-up. Valenti was prepared to cash in.

"I like to be pushed, I like to be driven," said Valenti, who ran on the Raiders' 4x200 relay team which placed second at the conference meet this winter. "When I was moved down, it was all the motivation I needed, just to try and find a way back."

When he did return to the varsity, the hits came in bunches. And so did the Raider wins.

"Now, I'm pushing myself to improve on that season," said Valenti, who managed 24 varsity hits despite missing the first third of the 2007 season. "You always have to push yourself to get better."

Valenti, who ran a personal best of 5.8 in the 50-yard dash this winter, hit indoors once a week in January and February.

"Once track ended, I hit every day," he said.