The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Astros open with streak

Club wins Þrst Þve DiMaggio games

By Dick Sparrer

It was a streak that would make Joe DiMaggio proud.

The Sunnyvale Astros, a team composed mostly of baseball players from Homestead and Fremont high schools, opened the Joe DiMaggio League season with five straight wins. Certainly not up there with DiMaggio's legendary 56-game hitting streak, but impressive none-theless.

The streak came to an end last week when the Astros dropped a 4-3 heartbreaker to San Carlos, but it's still been a hot start for the Sunnyvale club.

The season actually started with three straight wins in the Memorial Day Tournament in Palo Alto. After clinching the tourney crown, the Astros started a five-game run to open DiMaggio League play.

Art Alegria pounded three hits and drove in six runs to lead the Astros to a 12-4 win over Daly City in the league opener. Alegria, the power-hitting catcher from Fremont, ripped a three-run homer and a three-run triple to lead a 14-hit attack.

Lamar Harvey, another Fremont star, came on in relief to pick up the pitching win.

After beating Pacifica, the Astros came on to sweep a double-header against Mountain View.

Bryan McCann slammed a 450-foot home run and Nick Duran claimed the mound win in a 14-6 victory over Mountain View. McCann's blast keyed a six-run Sunnyvale rally in the fourth.

Tony Plant tossed a two-hit shutout in the nightcap to lead the Astros to a 7-0 win. Plant struck out seven for the winners.

Kayzell Milton ripped three hits and Alegria outdid McCann by crushing a 465-foot home run to left-center.

McCann answered back, though, with another home run just three days later in a 7-2 win over Belmont. McCann knocked in four runs to help Ben Amiwero pick up the mound win. Amiwero went the distance to toss a four-hitter.

Brett Erickson cracked three hits for the Astros, and Milton added a pair.

Harvey came through with a strong pitching effort, but the Astros dropped a tough 4-3 decision to San Carlos to see their streak come to an end. Harvey struck out 12, but was the victim of a wind-blown three-run homer that cost the Astros the decision.

The Astros had opened the season with three straight wins in the Memorial Day Tournament.

Duran tossed a one-hitter, and Harvey and Goldberg had three hits apiece to help the Astros open the year with a win.

Duran took a no-hitter into the seventh, but a ground ball single broke up his bid for a gem.

Goldberg drove in three runs for the winners, and Aaron Hall supported with a pair of hits.

Amiwero was the winning pitcher in game No. 2. Gabe Duran drove in three runs for the winners, and Goldberg and Harvey each knocked home runs.

The Astros ran into a bit of a jam in the seventh, but Plant came on to put out the fire, inducing a double-play put in motion by G. Duran.

Plant came back to team with McCann to toss a five-hitter in the tournament championship game. Milton homered in the 10-3 victory and finished the tournament with a blistering .591 batting average.

The Astros will be home for a single game against San Mateo on June 13, 5:30 p.m., at Homestead.

Sunnyvale plays in the Joe DiMaggio League South Division with Mountain View, Menlo Park, San Carlos, Belmont, and San Mateo. The North has Pacifica, Daly City, South City, San Bruno, Millbrae, and Burlingame.

The Astros play south teams three times and north teams twice, totaling 27 league games.

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, June 11, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.