The 2023 PGCBL season has concluded, and it was surely a season of memorable individual performances, comebacks, and fun for both the teams and their dedicated fans.
On Friday June 30, the Mohawks defeated the Watertown Rapids to improve to 21-1. The win was coach Griffin’s 500th with the Mohawks, and it took him just 14 seasons to reach that mark. Congrats coach!
The 2023 MLB Draft took place from July 9-July 11, and the PGCBL was well represented in the draftees. Here are the guys who got picked to advance to the next level:
Round 1, Pick 13 – Matt Shaw (Cubs, 2021 Mohawks)
Round 3, Pick 92 – Teddy McGraw (Mariners, 2021 Mohawks)
Round 5, Pick 153 – Quinn McDaniel (Giants, 2021 Dragons)
Round 6, Pick 174 – Cam Minacci (Angels, 2021 Mohawks)
Round 9, Pick 270 – Charlie Szykowny (Giants, 2021 Muckdogs)
Round 10, Pick 294 – Chris Barraza (Angels, 2019 Mohawks)
Round 10, Pick 305 – Caden Kindle (Cardinals, 2021 Stallions)
Round 10, Pick 312 – Brian Hendry (Yankees, 2018 Outlaws)
Round 11, Pick 340 – Carson Hobbs (Dodgers, 2021 Pioneers)
Round 15, Pick 450 – Dylan Carmouche (Giants, 2021 Mohawks)
Round 18, Pick 531 – Brendan Morse (Rangers, 2023 Power)
Round 19, Pick 557 – Tyler Kennedy (Pirates, 2022 Stallions)
Round 20, Pick 592 – Troy Butler (Rockies, 2023 DiamondDawgs)
Round 20, Pick 609 – Will King (Braves, 2022 Blue Sox)
On July 12, the 2022 PGCBL All-Star teams were announced. Each roster contained 28 of the best talents around the league this year. The teams were voted on based on the first day of the season through Wednesday, July 5.
During the regular season, the league voted on a Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week for each Division for the nine weeks. Here are a few of the top week-long performances:
Devin Murray, Elmira (Week 3) – 9 innings, 0 earned runs, 16 strikeouts
Mason Swinney, Amsterdam (Week 5) – 11-20 (.550), 10 runs, 10 RBIs
Billy Morris, Niagara (Week 6) – .308 batting average, 6 RBIs, 7 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 7 strikeouts
Jack Gannon, Newark (Week 6) – NO HITTER – 7 innings, 0 earned runs, 7 strikeouts
Jax Miller, Watertown (Week 7) – 8-13 (.615), 8 runs, 9 RBIs
Andrew Amato, Saugerties (Week 8) – 10-19 (.526), 12 runs, 12 RBIs
John Schroeder, Elmira (Week 8) – 11-29 (.393), 8 runs, 13 RBIs
Gardner Meeks, Elmira (Week 8) – 10 innings, 1 earned run, 11 strikeouts
The teams with the largest improvements in regular-season win percentage from 2022 to 2023 are as follows:
- Glens Falls Dragons (+.210)
- Niagara Power (+.171)
- Utica Blue Sox (+.096)
- Jamestown Tarp Skunks (+.093)
- Elmira Pioneers (+.078)
And some notable players who lead important statistical categories during the regular season:
Batting Average – Cam Gurney (.430), Amsterdam Mohawks/Utah
Runs – Jackson Strong (39), Niagara Power/Canisius
Hits – Jax Miller (51), Watertown Rapids/Walsh
HRs – Andrew Amato (13), Saugerties Stallions/Delaware
RBIs – Mitch Balint (42), MV DiamondDawgs/Carson-Newman & Luke Longo (42), Amsterdam Mohawks/NJIT
Walks – Nick Sturino (36), MV DiamondDawgs/Fairfield
Stolen Bases – Josh Leadem (31), Batavia Muckdogs/Rochester
Innings Pitched – Jacob Phillips (51.0), Boonville Lumberjacks/Guilford
Strikeouts – Jacob Phillips (59), Boonville Lumberjacks/Guilford
Wins – Tyler Sausville (6), Amsterdam Mohawks/Xavier
Saves – Michael Sills (7), Auburn Doubledays/Wofford
ERA – Gardner Meeks (1.00), Elmira Pioneers/Roanoke
The regular season concluded on Saturday, July 30, with the playoffs beginning the next day.
Representing the East were the (1) Mohawks, (2) Blue Sox, (3) DiamondDawgs, (4) Stallions, (5) Dutchmen, and (6) Dragons. The West bracket contained the (1) Muckdogs, (2) Pioneers, (3) Tarp Skunks, and (4) Doubledays.
The final four teams were the Elmira Pioneers, Auburn Doubledays, Amsterdam Mohawks, and Utica Blue Sox. After the Mohawks and Pioneers won their respective divisions, the Mohawks won the first two games of the best-of-three championship series to claim their second consecutive PGCBL Championship title.
Cam Gurney was named 2023 PGCBL Championship Series MVP, hitting .625 with 2 RBIs during the two games.
Now all that’s left is the revealing of the 2023 PGCBL All-League Teams, as well as the Player/Pitcher/Coach of the year…