Cody Veneziano of Uxbridge has been slowly moving up the baseball ladder since he was young and first introduced to the game of baseball. After playing baseball locally, it was in the seventh grade when the Uxbridge resident decided to take his game to the next level, so he joined the Jr. WooSox, an AAU team that would allow him to play against better competitors. 

As a four-year football and baseball player at Uxbridge High School, Veneziano made a name for himself. According to the Spartans baseball Coach, Peter Rice, Veneziano was not only the team’s number one pitcher, but when he wasn’t slated to take the mound, he was the starting catcher, giving Uxbridge the best option behind the plate.

Last season as a junior he stepped up big for the Spartans and threw one -hitter against Clinton in the second round of the Division 4 State Tournament, This past spring the Uxbridge senior would bat .359 with a .473 on base percentage; have 23 hits, 18 RBI, 19 runs scored and was hit by a pitch nine times all while batting in the number three spot for Rice.

On the mound, he unfortunately was saddled with some tough-luck losses and ended the season 3-3 with 35 strikeouts over 49 innings pitched. He was the team’s workhorse and always wanted to take the ball against the big-time opponents. Against Millbury, the defending Division 4 State Champions, the team allowed 4 unearned runs behind him in the first inning, but Veneziano stayed calm, cool, and collected while shutting the Woolies down after that inning. Veneziano would eventually hit the game-winning grand slam to give Uxbridge a come-from-behind 5-4 win.

With his senior season in the books and getting ready to take his pitching skills to Assumption University next year, Veneziano decided to play for the Northbridge American Legion team this summer. 

“Having aged out of playing for the WooSox, I decided to play for Northbridge this summer to prepare myself for college,” he said. “I am hoping that I can improve my game against the likes of other kids headed to college or those who have already begun their college careers.”

Northbridge American Legion Coach Dan Briand wanted the Uxbridge stud last year, but Veneziano was already committed to the WooSox, so he had to wait an extra year.

“He was locked into his AAU team last summer,” Briand said. “This year he is here, and I am looking for him to pitch lights out for us. Eventually I’d like to line him up to start for us in the tournament.”

Thus far, playing for Northbridge, Veneziano is hitting .314 and has been Post 343’s best pitcher, going 15.1 innings with a 1-2 record where he took a couple of tough losses (2-1 and 3-0). When Veneziano is not taking the ball from Briand, he is suited up and playing centerfield for Northbridge. Although Veneziano isn’t having the success he would like, the team is still in contention for a spot in the tournament. 

“Playing for Northbridge, I am hoping that I cannot only help Northbridge advance into the playoffs but also help myself prepare for next year playing at Assumption,” he said. 

By playing for Post 343 this summer, the Uxbridge native is hoping that when he arrives at Assumption, he will be able to earn himself a role on the team and help the Greyhounds win. The last time he spoke with the baseball coach, he was assured that it was a good possibility that he would be able to take the mound for the Greyhounds.

With college baseball the next rung on the ladder, Veneziano is unsure if his talent will take him further than Assumption, but there is time to figure things out.

“Honestly, I haven’t really thought about playing professional baseball,” Veneziano said. “If it happens and gets in the way, then I will definitely take it, but for  now I am just preparing to play for Assumption over the next few years.”

Photos supplied by Cody Veneziano