The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League was founded in the fall of 2010 by eight summer baseball teams located across upstate New York in conjunction with Perfect Game USA, baseball’s largest scouting service. The eight founding members of the PGCBL were the Albany Dutchmen, Amsterdam Mohawks, Cooperstown Hawkeyes, Elmira Pioneers, Glens Falls Golden Eagles, Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs, Newark Pilots and Watertown Wizards. The league’s first season was completed in the summer of 2011.
The eight teams were broken down into two divisions, PGCBL East and PGCBL West. The East was comprised of Albany, Amsterdam, Glens Falls and Mohawk Valley. The West was made up of Cooperstown, Elmira, Newark and Watertown. Glens Falls and Cooperstown were the regular season division champions in the PGCBL East and West respectively. Glens Falls, Cooperstown, Amsterdam and Newark qualified for the league playoffs. Newark defeated Amsterdam, two games to one, to win the very first PGCBL championship.
In 2012, the league expanded to nine teams with the addition of the Oneonta Outlaws. The two-division format was replaced by a single nine-team division nätcasino svenskt with the top four teams in the league regular season standings qualifying for the playoffs. Amsterdam won 35 of 47 regular season games and captured the regular season championship. Amsterdam, Glens Falls, Newark and Mohawk Valley qualified for the postseason. Amsterdam swept Glens Falls to win its first league title. The Mohawks finished the summer ranked third nationally in Perfect Game’s Summer Top 30 poll.
The Adirondack Trail Blazers and the Utica Brewers joined the PGCBL in the fall of 2012 while the Oneonta Outlaws were granted a one year Voluntary Suspension of operations. The 2013 season saw a return of the two-division format as 10 teams were broken into East and West divisions. Albany, Cooperstown, Glens Falls, Mohawk Valley and defending champion Amsterdam comprised the East while newcomers Adirondack and Utica joined Elmira, Newark and Watertown in the West. A new playoff format featuring six teams was instituted as the first and second-place finishers in each division were joined for the first time by the third-place finishing team – this led to a down-to-wire playoff chase where the sixth and final playoff spot was not decided until the final night of the regular season. Amsterdam and Watertown overcame slow starts to win division titles; each team captured its first division title in the PGCBL. Albany, Mohawk Valley, Elmira and Newark rounded out the playoff field. Three seeds Albany and Elmira each won opening round playoff games over second-seeded Mohawk Valley and Newark respectively to advance to the divisional finals against Amsterdam and Watertown. Amsterdam edged out Albany and Elmira in back-to-back Game 3’s to become the first repeat champion in league history.
The Cooperstown Hawkeyes were placed on Voluntary Suspension for the 2014 season, leaving four teams in the East Division. The Amsterdam Mohawks again finished with the best record in the league at 36-11- winning the East by nine games over the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs. The West Division was a little tighter with the division coming down to the final days of the regular season. Newark came out on top, winning the division by a game and a half over Elmira with a 27-19 record. In the postseason, Mohawk Valley defeated the Albany Dutchmen in the one-game playoff in the East while Elmira beat the Watertown Rams in Elmira in the West. In the East Division Championship Series, Amsterdam swept Mohawk Valley en route to a fourth consecutive PGCBL Championship Series appearance. In the West, Newark escaped against Elmira to set up a rematch of the 2011 Championship Series. Amsterdam came back from an early deficit to win Game One in Amsterdam and traveled to Newark the following night, where the Mohawks capped off a record-breaking season with the franchise’s third straight PGCBL championship.
In July 2014, the league announced a franchise will be placed in Saugerties, New York and play in the East Division-effective for the 2015 season. In January 2015, the league announced the addition of a franchise in Victor for the 2015 season. The league also decided to play a 50-game schedule, compared to the previous length of a 48-game schedule. The Cooperstown Hawkeyes remained on voluntary suspension and were joined by the Watertown Rams.
In 2015, the Amsterdam Mohawks won the East Division with a record 40 wins in the regular season. The Elmira Pioneers won the West Division, with a team record 33 wins. Both teams were upset in the divisional round of playoffs as Mohawk Valley upended the defending champions in three games, while the first year Victor RailRiders swept the Pioneers. The Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs then swept the RailRiders to capture the 2015 PGCBL Championship, the first in team history.
At the PGCBL owners meeting in October 2015, the league announced the addition of three teams to the league roster. Former NYCBL members Geneva and Oneonta jumped to the PGCBL for 2016. The Jamestown Jammers also decided to move to the PGCBL after having played in the Prospect League in 2015. In April 2016, the Utica Brewers changed their name to the Utica Blue Sox.
The 2016 season featured a 50-game regular season for the second straight year. A year after setting a PGCBL record with 40 wins in the regular season, the Amsterdam Mohawks again finished with the best regular season record at 34-15, winning the East Division. In the West, the Elmira Pioneers won their second straight division title with a 33-15 record.
A new eight-team playoff format saw the top two seeds in both divisions advance to the division finals, with Amsterdam meeting Albany and Elmira facing Utica. Amsterdam went back to the PGCBL Finals to meet Utica, who was making their first trip in franchise history. Both series went the full three games. Amsterdam then swept the PGCBL finals with two decisive victories to earn their fourth title in five years.
Before the 2017 season, the PGCBL announced the addition of the Onondaga Flames for the coming season, and awarded a franchise to Watertown, which would begin play in 2018.
Three teams earned playoff berths for the first time during the 2017 season. Saugerties earned the number four seed in the East, while Geneva bounced back from a 9-40 season to get a home playoff game in the West. Onondaga also qualified for the first time, picking up the number four seed in the West.
In the playoffs, Amsterdam and Mohawk Valley got through in the West, while Elmira and Jamestown matched up in the West Finals. Mohawk Valley then dethroned Amsterdam for the second time in three seasons to set up a PGCBL Finals with the Jamestown Jammers. The DiamondDawgs swept the PGCBL Finals to earn their second title.
With the addition of Watertown and the voluntary suspension of Onondaga, the PGCBL moved to a three division format, creating a West, Central, and an East Division before the 2018 season.
In March of 2018, the PGCBL announced a new President and Vice President to guide the league into the future. Former New York Penn League President Robert Julian was named President, and longtime right-hand man and Utica College baseball coach Joe Milazzo was named Vice President.
The league entered the 2019 season moving back to two divisions; an East and West format that was comprised of 12 teams (6 in each division). Amsterdam (East) and Utica (West) led their respective divisions into the post season, where Amsterdam would go on to win the Championship.
The 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19.
In 2021, the league announced the additions of the Auburn Doubledays and the Batavia Muckdogs from the New York-Penn League as well as the Niagara Power of the New York Collegiate Baseball League. This brought the PGCBL up to a record 16 teams who played in a three division format. In 2021, the Saugerties Stallions won the league championship for the first time in franchise history with a sweep of the Amsterdam Mohawks.
Entering the 2022 season, the PGCBL reorganized into two divisions, the East and West, with eight teams in each division. The top team in the East, Amsterdam Mohawks (39-6), and top team in the West, Batavia Muckdogs (30-15), squared off in the best of three game Championship series. Amsterdam won the deciding game 3 en route to their 6th PGCBL Championship.
Heading into the summer of 2023, divisional alignment was slightly altered as the Utica Blue Sox moved into the East Division (creating a 9 team East Division and 7 team West Division), to better accommodate divisional scheduling. The Amsterdam Mohawks (36-5) held the top spot for the East during the regular season before going on to win the PGCBL Championship, beating the Elmira Pioneers to secure back-to-back championships. The West was hotly contested throughout the entire season as 5 of the 7 teams finished within 4 games of 1st place in the division.
The 2023 season was also a milestone for Mohawks’ skipper, Keith Griffin, as he secured his 500th career win at the helm as the league’s most tenured head coach. There were also a couple of memorable pitching performances; in week 3, Devin Murray (Elmira) recorded 16 strikeouts and did not allow an earned run. In week 6, Jack Gannon (Newark) threw a 7-inning no-hitter. The PGCBL had another successful MLB draft and has now had over 370 players drafted.
The PGCBL will kick off the league’s 15th season on Friday, May 31st, 2024.
Past Champions:
2023 – Amsterdam Mohawks
2022 – Amsterdam Mohawks
2021 – Saugerties Stallions
2020 – Season canceled due to COVID-19
2019 – Amsterdam Mohawks
2018 – Jamestown Jammers
2017 – Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs
2016 – Amsterdam Mohawks
2015 – Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs
2014 – Amsterdam Mohawks
2013 – Amsterdam Mohawks
2012 – Amsterdam Mohawks
2011 – Newark Pilots
Player of the Year:
2023 – Andrew Amato, Saugerties
2022 – Gage Miller, Amsterdam
2021 – Griffin O’Ferrall, Auburn
2020 – Season canceled due to COVID-19
2019 – Max Costes, Amsterdam
2018 – Ryan Toohers, Mohawk Valley
2017 – Christ Conley, Jamestown
2016 – Joe Genord, Amsterdam
2015 – Christian Santisteban, Elmira
2014 – Josh Gardiner, Amsterdam
2013 – John Nogowski, Amsterdam
2012 – Ross Kivett, Glens Falls
2011 – Erick Gaylord, Watertown
Pitcher of the Year:
2023 – Aidan Colagrande, Mohawk Valley
2022 – Nolan Sparks, Batavia
2021 – Nick Smith, Elmira
2020 – Season canceled due to COVID-19
2019 – Lane Miller, Saugerties
2018 – Mason Hazelwood, Elmira
2017 – Matt Pierce, Albany
2016 – Brennen Smith, Victor; Joe DeSarro, Mohawk Valley
2015 – Kyano Cummings, Elmira; Zach Logue, Amsterdam
2014 – Jayson Yano, Newark
2013 – Eann Cox, Cooperstown
2012 – Chandler Shepherd, Amsterdam
2011 – Dominick Ruscitti, Newark
Coach of the Year:
2023 – (co-winners) Joey Martinez, Batavia & Keith Griffin, Amsterdam
2022 – Keith Griffin, Amsterdam
2021 – Rich Dubee, Saugerties
2020 – Season canceled due to COVID-19
2019 – Mickey Fauvelle, Adirondack
2018 – Anthony Barone, Jamestown
2017 – Anthony Barone, Jamestown
2016 – Blake Nation, Mohawk Valley
2015 – Dan Shwam, Victor
2014 – Mike Armstrong, Newark
2013 – Nick Davey, Albany
2012 – Keith Griffin, Amsterdam
2011 – Eric Coleman, Cooperstown
All-Star Game Most Valuable Player:
2023 – ASG replaced by mid-season All-Star Team
2022 – ASG replaced by mid-season All-Star Team
2021 – ASG replaced by mid-season All-Star Team
2020 – Season canceled due to CODIV-19
2019 – John Rhodes, Oneonta
2018 – Alex O’Donnell, Jamestown
2017 – Anthony Vaglica, Glens Falls
2016 – Robbie Knightes, Glens Falls
2015 – Scott Manea, Amsterdam
2014 – Kevin Cowan, Glens Falls
2013 – Mike Fisher, Mohawk Valley
2012 – Giuseppe Papaccio, Amsterdam
2011 – Cullen Wacker, Mohawk Valley
All-Star Game Results:
2023 – ASG replaced by mid-season All-Star Team
2022 – ASG replaced by mid-season All-Star Team
2021 – ASG replaced by mid-season All-Star Team
2020 – Season canceled due to COVID-19
2019 – East 5, West 5 (July 16, Saugerties, N.Y., Cantine Field)
2018 – West 8, East 5 (July 18, Elmira, N.Y., Dunn Field)
2017 – East 10, West 8 (July 18, Amsterdam, N.Y., Shuttleworth Park)
2016 – East 9, West 1 (July 20, Albany, N.Y., Bob Bellizzi Field)
2015 – East 18, West 2 (July 20, Little Falls, N.Y., Veteran’s Memorial Park)
2014 – East 3, West 1 (July 15, Elmira, N.Y., Dunn Field)
2013 – East 7, West 3 (July 24, Newark, N.Y., Colburn Park)
2012 – Team Griffin 4, Team Ebright 0 (July 24, Amsterdam, N.Y., Shuttleworth Park)
2011 – East 7, West 4 (July 18, Elmira, N.Y., Dunn Field)