Nov. 4, 2011

EASTON, Pa. - Former Lafayette baseball player Kevin Reese '08 is continuing his professional career in the Australian Baseball League with the Melbourne Aces. Reese, an All-Patriot League performer on the Leopards' 2007 Patriot League Championship team, was the Opening Day starter for the Aces today in Sydney.

In a game that was played at 7 p.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) today, Reese surrendered just two runs on five hits in seven innings of work for the Aces, settling for a no-decision as Melbourne lost to the host Sydney Blue Sox, 3-2, on a walk-off sacrifice fly.

Reese, a right-hander, ranks among the Leopards' all-time leaders with 15 wins, 222.1 innings pitched and 157 strikeouts in his four seasons on College Hill before joining the professional ranks. He has previously taken the mound for the Washington (Pa.) Wild Things and Traverse City (Mich.) Beach Bums - both of the Frontier League - and was named a Frontier League All-Star in 2010 en route to 10 wins and a playoff appearance with Traverse City. Reese most recently pitched for the Somerset (N.J.) Patriots of the Atlantic League, where he was managed by 1977 American League Cy Young Award winner Sparky Lyle and was joined on the staff by former Major League hurlers Bill Pulsipher and 1999 National League Rookie of the Year Scott Williamson.

Reese is one of four former Leopards currently playing professional baseball. Chris Luick '09 and A.J. Miller '11 recently completed their seasons in the independent Frontier League, while Ian Dickson has signed a contract with the Chicago Cubs after being selected in the 35th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft in June.