Marcelino Alonso

Class of 2014

Outfielder

Augusta Athletics 1996-2001; Eau Claire Bears 2002

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A native of Panama, Marcelino Alonso was a baseball hitting savant during his memorable seven-season tear through CRBL history.

The likable and affable Alonso settled in Augusta after playing two seasons of Rookie Ball for the Baltimore Orioles organization in 1992 and 1993.  In his rookie CRBL campaign of 1996, Marcelino used his quick-wristed stroke to hit .365 (19 for 52) with 2 home runs and 10 RBI’s for the 11 and 7 Augusta crew.  The explosiveness of Alonso’s bat made him a seamless addition to Augusta’s notorious high octane offense.

Marcelino’s sophomore season of 16 games in 1997 was a resounding display of his batting talents.  Walloping a league leading 10 homers and 31 RBI’s, the outfielder also had 30 hits in 68 at-bats (.441 average) with 7 doubles and 29 runs scored.  Accordingly, Alonso was awarded with his first All-CRBL award.

A two-time batting champion, Marcelino captured his first such distinction in 1998 as he roped a .550 average (22 for 40) to go along with 4 doubles, 5 home runs, and 20 RBI’s in only 10 league games for the 12 and 4 CRBL champion Athletics of Augusta.

Alonso’s second batting title came in 2000 when he produced one of the greatest individual seasons in CRBL history.  In 18 games, the Athletic led the CRBL with 39 hits and a .557 average in 70 at-bats.  He also led the league in doubles with 11 while collecting 27 RBI’s and scoring 22 runs.  His 39 knocks stood as a CRBL single-season record until 2012 when the Eau Claire Bears’ Jeremy Nicolai slashed 41 hits in 22 games.

2001 will forever stand as the CRBL’s return to wood bats after nearly a 30-year absence.  Marcelino adjusted nicely by hitting .354 (23 for 65) and tying for the league lead in hits with 23 to go along with 2 long balls, 10 RBI’s, and 15 runs scored.

In 2002 the former Oriole farmhand took his bat to Eau Claire where he played one year for the Bears.  Hitting .364  (24 for 66) with 5 doubles, 2 homers, 13 RBI’s, and 15 runs, Marcelino played an integral role in helping the Bears capture their first South Division title as well as their first appearance in the WBA’s Final 8.

After 2002, Alonso moved to the southern part of Wisconsin, thus shortening his time in the CRBL to seven extremely productive seasons.  Marcelino’s abbreviated stay prevented his sterling career batting average (.424) and slugging percentage (.721) from qualifying for all-time marks within those categories.  Upon induction, the hard-hitting righty can be found, however, tied for 32^nd all-time in home runs with 26.

A participant in four All-Star games (1996, 1997, 2001, 2002), Alonso was rightfully selected for All-CRBL honors three times (1997, 2000, 2001).  These individual accolades were of course major ingredients in the success of his teams, as Marcelino was a member of four Southern Division champions, two CRBL champions, seven WBA qualifiers, and two Final 8 squads.

It should be noted that Alonso’s departure from the CRBL did not end his amateur baseball career.  2013 represented his ninth season of baseball in the Home Talent Leagues of southern Wisconsin, with his first two post-CRBL campaigns being with the Baraboo River Dogs and his last eight belonging to the Reedsburg Pirates.