Rob Nesovic, the Victoria HarbourCats starter Friday night, describes himself as a utility player who just happens to also pitch.
The multi-faceted six-foot-four native of San Diego had a rough West Coast League debut in a 5-1 victory by the Bend Elks before 1,248 fans at Royal Athletic Park.
But he looks to have all the tools, and one game does not a season make. It didn鈥檛 help facing a big-bodied, hard-hitting, sharp-fielding Bend team that won its fifth consecutive game and is the early class of the league at 12-4 overall and an impressive 8-2 on the road.
Victoria dropped to 8-4 overall.
As comfortable playing shortstop, first base, third base or designated hitter, Nesovic had a monstrous NCAA freshman season at UC-Santa Barbara. He hit .326 with nine doubles, four homers, 33 RBIs and 28 runs in 215 plate appearances over 54 games. On the mound, he pitched 57.1 innings with a 5.02 ERA and 31 strikeouts.
There is speculation of possible NCAA all-freshman team selection when that is announced.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 worry about that kind of stuff,鈥� said the self-effacing and quiet-spoken Nesovic, who was also recruited by Stanford, Arizona, Oklahoma, USC and Dartmouth.
鈥淚 like to keep to myself and don鈥檛 like the attention.鈥�
But he may get it, just the same.
鈥淗e can play third base, first base and can pitch 鈥� he鈥檚 simply a very talented kid,鈥� said Victoria manager Dennis Rogers.
That extends to basketball, in which Nesovic was East County player of the year as a forward at Grossmont High School in Greater San Diego.
Asked why he chose baseball over hoops, Nesovic quipped that six-foot-four 鈥渙nly makes you a point-guard now [at the higher levels].鈥�
Nesovic concluded Friday night鈥檚 game as a pinch hitter, grounding out to end the contest.
The game did not get off to an auspicious start for him on the mound, either, as Nesovic loaded the bases with none out in the first inning. He was made to pay by a Turner Gill double that keyed a three-run Bend opening frame.
Nesovic gave up 11 hits, including five doubles, and all five runs in going seven innings. He was replaced in the eight inning by Will Ballowe from the University of Washington Huskies.
Bend starter Hunter Raley, a six-foot-three left-hander out of Murray State, had a highly-effective outing and gave up one hit with no runs, three walks and five strikeouts. But his pitch count mounted to 76 with eight full-counts over four innings and he was replaced by Arizona State freshman Eric Melbostad to start the fifth inning. Melbostad was awarded the win.
The steady Bend pitchers held Victoria bats to five hits.
The HarbourCats left six stranded with another runner caught stealing, so the opportunities were there to make it a closer game but not fully exploited.
Victoria and Bend conclude their set with a game tonight at 7 on fireworks night followed by a Sunday matinee.
