Baseball Notebook

This weekend’s series saw a great effort from starting second baseman Blake Butera, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBI in Sunday’s win. In game one of the series on Friday, the true freshman’s sacrifice bunt allowed teammate Matt McGovern to move from first to second base, putting him in position to score on junior Rob Moir’s ensuing double. The sequence gave the Eagles one of their two runs in the 2-1 win.

“We’ve watched it all year from this kid,” Gambino said. “I don’t think people fully understand how hard it is for a freshman in the ACC to do what he’s been doing all year. He’s been so consistent, he plays hard, and he works hard.”
Butera’s fellow members of the class of 2015 made major contributions in the Sunday win. Tyler Hinchliffe went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, while starter Eric Stone held a talented Wake Forest lineup to two runs through three innings.

Rookie pitchers Nick Poore and Geoffrey Murphy combined for four relief innings of one-run ball, and freshman right-hander John Gorman came in with two outs and struck out the tying run in the bottom of the ninth. Murphy picked up his first win of the season to draw even at 1-1.

“We’ve got a lot of freshmen contributing,” Gambino said.


Baseball Hosts ALS Awareness Game For Pete Frates
The Eagles honored current director of baseball operations Pete Frates, who was recently diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, by hosting Saturday’s matchup as an ALS awareness game. Frates, who played outfield for the Eagles from 2004-07 and served as a captain his senior year, was diagnosed on Mar. 13th of this year.

“He was the type of teammate that everyone wanted to have,” Gambino said. “He cared so much about winning, he worked so hard, he was so competitive. He cared so much about his teammates. He was always looking to take care of somebody or help somebody get better.”
It doesn’t surprise Gambino that the Boston College baseball community has rallied around Frates.

“I know how special of a program this is, and once you’re part of this BC baseball family, you’re going to be taken care of,” the head coach said. “It doesn’t surprise me, but it’s really awesome to see.”
Frates has committed to raising awareness about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known more commonly as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Saturday’s ALS awareness game saw a record crowd of 2,286, who looked on as Gambino, athletics director Gene DeFilippo, and the BC baseball team presented Frates with his framed jersey.


Perdios Adjusts, Contributes
Fifth-year senior Marc Perdios has been on a hot streak lately, and this weekend was no exception. While he snapped his 10-game hit streak after not reaching base during Friday’s game, on Saturday, the outfielder drove in three runs and went 2-for-4 with a single and a double.

In Sunday’s series finale, Perdios drew three walks and scored three of the Eagles’ nine runs on the day. Gambino talked about the veteran’s high level of play.

“He got into a little funk earlier in the year,” Gambino said. “He came and talked to me and said, ‘I think I can help this ball club: I want another chance to show you that I can help this club win.’ And he went in there and he’s been on fire ever since.

“We love the kid, we love having him around, we’re so lucky that he came back for his fifth year, because he’s a major reason why we’re making this run right now towards the end.”