The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

DOMINIQUE Collie Jr made his official debut on the field with the Webber International University Warriors baseball programme.

Collie tripled to left centre in the eighth inning to drive in two runs, but the Warriors’ rally fell short in a season opening 6-3 loss to Keiser University in Babson Park, Florida.

Keiser, the No.15 ranked team in the NAIA, took a 1-0 lead at the end of the first inning. In his first appearance, Collie drew a walk to open the second inning but was eventually caught stealing at second. The Warriors evened the game at 1-1 in the third inning and both teams went scoreless over the fourth and fifth. Keiser pulled ahead with two runs in the sixth and three runs in the seventh to take a 6-1 lead.

Collie’s triple scored teammates Angel Diaz and Norberto Navarro to cut into the deficit but were unable to manufacture any other runs in the remainder of the eight and the duration of the ninth inning.

After just two seasons in Minor League Baseball with the Arizona Diamondacks organisation, Collie joined the Warriors in the offseason. He spent last season as a redshirt and Webber was 18-11 in last season before the season was suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Collie spent last summer with the Palm Beach Diamond Ducks in the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League (SFCBL). The SFCBL is a summer league for current collegiate players from across the nation. With 10 teams spanning from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale in a 44-game regular season.

In 18 games he hit .237 with 11 runs and four stolen bases.

At 17-years-old, Collie was an international signing by the Diamondbacks in March 2017.

He spent his first season of pro baseball in the Dominican Republic Summer League with the DSL Diamondbacks. In 37 games he hit .245 with a .717 OPS, with 18 runs, six RBI and 33 total bases. In 2018 he advanced to the Arizona Fall League where hit .127 with a .445 OPS four RBI and 10 runs.

Now 20, as an international signee he has taken advantage of the opportunity to retain his NCAA eligibility and play collegiately.

Webber competes in the Sun Conference of the NAIA. They open a three game series tonight against Florida National University.