Laureano pitches no-hitter for Upper Room

Upper Room’s Ramon Laureano pitched a no-hitter and just missed a perfect game last Monday at the Masters School in West Simsbury, Conn. He lost the the bid for a perfect game when he walked a batter with one out in the seventh.

“After the walk, I thought I should’ve struck him out,” Laureano said. “It feels good because I have a lot of confidence in myself, I knew I was throwing good.”

Laureano, a senior born in the Dominican Republic, has been residing with Upper Room coach Tony Passalacqua for two years, struck out 15 batters, including the first nine of the game, for his first no-hitter.

“I was trying to just throw the best I can and that’s it,” Laureano said. “My curveball, my two-seam and my [four-seam] fastball were all very good.”

Passalacqua praised Laureano for his consistent commitment to the game.

“He works hard, loves the game, and has a world of talent,” Passalacqua said. “He’ll throw three pitches, and when he’s feeling good and he’s on, he’ll over power you and can fool you too.”

Upper Room won the game 12-0, with Jovanni Thomas hitting two home runs and a triple to drive in six runs.