High School Baseball:
Cherokee's D'Alonzo Hits 2 Home Runs In Win Over Edgewood

Tuesday, May 2, 2000

By Bob Stewart
SJSports Staff Writer

After coming off a tough loss to Washington Township, the Cherokee baseball team pounded out 4 home runs against a deflated Edgewood pitching staff. The wind was blowing out to left in this game. Cherokee scored 9 runs in the first two innings, seven of which were scored on Phil D'Alonzo's first two plate appearances. He hit a 3 run monster home run in the first and a grand slam in the second inning.

In the first inning, Cherokee's Mike Scanzan walked then stole second. Greg Amato also walked. With 2 men on base, Ed McDonnell hit an infield fly for the first out. Phil D'Alonzo, batting cleanup, hit a monster of a home run way over the left field fence and also over a dirt pile way past the fence. After being greeted by his fellow players, D'Alonzo said, "I forgot my contacts today." With the day he had at the plate, maybe he should forget them more often. The next batter, Pat O'Brien, hit a double to left center. Dustin Roach popped up to short and Dom Zanghi walked. Matt Manfold, DH, hit a run, scoring double to deep center making the score 4-0. Bob Mansis was the ninth and last batter for Cherokee in the first as he grounded out to short.

Edgewood started off the first inning with Jancay getting on base on a error hit to short. Rosetti followed with a shot to left that bounced over the leftfielder's head. This scored Jancay from first and put Rosetti on second. Johnson walked for Edgewood as they now had runners on first and second with no outs. Muckley flied out to left, Nardello popped up to first and Lee struck out to end the Eagles' first inning. The score after one was Cherokee 4 - Edgewood 1.

In the top of the second, Scanzan walked. Amato laid down a perfect bunt down the third baseline to put runners on first and second. McDonnell walked to load the bases. Cleanup hitter D'Alonzo hit a grand slam to left to make the score 8-1 (see video of him being greeted by his teammates at home plate). Also hitting a homerun in the inning for the Indians was Roach. The inning ended with the score 9-1.

Later in the game, Cherokee's McDonnell hit a home run to right center. The game ended with the score 13-2, as Cherokee pounded out 12 hits in the game.

Edgewood has nice week in Florida:

Edgewood's pitching staff had some tired arms after their trip to Florida. The team traveled to Florida for the Easter Break, and played 3 games. The Eagles were 2-1 on the trip as they beat 2 teams from New York and lost an 8-inning game to Toms River East.

Photos by Boog Williams

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