Baseball: Williamstown stuns Cherokee

Matt Long and John Brady each stole three bases as Williamstown beat Cherokee, 8-6, on Saturday in the first round of the Grand Slam Classic at Washington Township.

Brett Virnelson was 2-for-3 with an RBI as Williamstown improved to 4-0 and advance to Monday's tournament semifinals against the winner of the Millville-Haddonfield game.

Williamstown stole 11 bases. The Braves scored twice on double steals on first-and-third situations.

Cherokee, the No. 5 team in The Inquirer's preseason Top 10, was playing its first game. The Chiefs were off last week because most of their seniors were away on a trip.

"We faltered in all three areas of the game," Cherokee coach Marc Petragnani said.

Cherokee pitchers hit six batters and walked four. The Chiefs managed just three hits and committed four errors.

"We played sloppy," Petragnani said. "We're better than this and hopefully we'll show it soon."

Winning pitcher Kyle Grim worked 3 1/3 innings of relief. He didn't allow an earned run.

Williamstown committed six errors but the Braves turned a pair of double plays to end the fifth and sixth innings.

"Not our 'A' game," Williamstown coach Jim Ambrosius said. "We believe we have the ability to be one of the better teams in South Jersey."

Cherokee 002 00 4 - 6 3 4

Williamstown 020 402 x -- 8 6 8

WP: Kyle Grim. LP: Frank Rosetti.

2B: Jordan Glover, C.

-- Phil Anastasia