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Sports

Mastrogiovanni Learns from First At-Bat, Then Goes Deep

Matt Mastrogiovanni hit a two-run homer for Erial, on Tuesday.

Lil’ Slugger's Name: Matt Mastrogiovanni

Lil’ Slugger's Team: Erial Little League

Lil’ Slugger's Position: First base

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Lil’ Slugger's Accomplishment: Mastrogiovanni worked a full count in the third inning of a 1-1 game, then blasted a curveball close to 300 feet, over the left-field fence. The homer gave Erial a 3-1 lead and helped it win its Section 4 tournament opener with a 5-3 win over Margate.

Lil' Slugger's Key to Awesomeness: Mastrogiovanni was not deterred by his first-inning strikeout; instead he learned from it. Mastrogiovanni struck out on a curveball in his first at-bat, so he anticipated seeing it again with the count 3-2 in his second at-bat. When he got it, he didn’t miss.

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“I was looking for a curveball because in the first inning he struck me out on a curveball,” Mastogiovanni said. “It felt good to get a curve and get my first home run out of the way.”

“He has hit a bunch in practice so I’m sure that one felt good,” said Erial manager (and proud father) Jeff Mastrogiovanni. “He got the monkey off his back with that swing.”

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