Baseball: Williamstown beats Clearview

By Phil Anastasia

Williamstown coach Jim Ambrosius calls third baseman Frank D'Alessandro "a program kid."

That's high praise.

D'Alessandro is a senior who paid his dues and waited his turn. He entered this season with just a handful of varsity at-bats and without a starting spot.

"He came off the bench the first game," Ambrosius said of D'Alessandro, who led Williamstown to a 6-5 victory over Clearview in a Tri-County Royal Division baseball game on Monday.

Starting for the third time, D'Alessandro delivered a pair of doubles, drove in two runs and scored the winning run for Williamstown (3-1 overall, 3-0 in the division).

"It feels great," said D'Alessandro, a third baseman. "I've been hitting the ball pretty good but they haven't been dropping."

Freshman designated hitter Zach Martinez drove in the winning run with a double in the bottom of the sixth inning and junior pitcher John Clerkin picked up the win in relief for  Williamstown on a warm, windy afternoon on the Braves' field.

Senior centerfielder T.J. Dezzi was 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and two walks for Clearview (3-1, 2-1).

"Our kids battled," Clearview coach Rocco Cornacchia said. "Their kids battled, too. It was a typical Tri-County Royal game."

Clearview took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first as Dezzi, a University of the Sciences recruit, and Jared Datz rapped doubles.

Williamstown battled back to take a 5-3 lead by scratching out a pair of runs in the first on one hit -- a bunt single by lead-off hitter Dan Musilli -- and adding a three-spot in the fourth.

D'Alessandro delivered the big hit, a bases-loaded double on a 3-2 pitch.

"I had it in my head, 'He's going throw it down the middle,'" D'Alessandro said. "He did and I was able to drive it."

Clearview tied the score in the fifth at sophomore Eric Lauk drove home Dezzi, who had walked, with a triple. Datz followed with an RBI grounder.

D'Alessandro led off the bottom of the sixth with score tied at 5-5.

"I knew somebody had to do it," D'Alessandro said.

D'Alessandro started the game-winning rally with another double. After Ross Micka's sacrifice bunt, Martinez chased D'Alessandro home with a double to right-center.

Ambrosius said D'Alessandro has stayed positive despite limited playing time.

"He's a terrific kid," Ambrosius said. "He comes to practice every day with a great attitude. He was huge for us today."

D'Alessandro said he never got frustrated waiting for his chance to make an impact at the varsity level.

"I got 'reps' on JV, a few 'reps' on varsity," D'Alessandro. "I knew I would get my chance."

Clearview 300020 0 -- 5 7 1

Williamstown 200 301 x -- 6 9 0

WP: John Clerkin. LP:Kyle Slane.

2B: C-T.J. Dezzi 2, Jared Datz; W-Frank D'Alessandro 2, Zach Martinez.

3B: C-Eric Lauk.

-- Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com

-- Follow @PhilAnastasia on Twitter