Six PGCBL contests were played on the first day of July, including a doubleheader between the Saugerties Stallions and the Oneonta Outlaws. The Batavia Muckdogs prevailed in a non-league game. A scheduled doubleheader between the Jamestown Tarp Skunks and the Newark Pilots, as well as a single contest between the Utica Blue Sox and the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs were postponed due to weather.
Game 1: Saugerties Stallions 8, Oneonta Outlaws 5… Game 2: Saugerties Stallions 3, Oneonta Outlaws 1
After taking both games of Saturday’s doubleheader at Oneonta, the Stallions (11-7) have ripped off five consecutive victories in the last three days. They previously swept a doubleheader at Mohawk Valley on Thursday, which preceded a one-run home win over Glens Falls on Friday.
The Stallions currently have the third-best winning percentage in the East Division Standings.
Both games of Saturday’s doubleheader were seven-inning contests.
Game 1 – The Stallions jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings during the first half of the doubleheader at Oneonta’s Damaschke Field, then the Outlaws (8-13) mounted a comeback with one run in the fifth, and four runs in the bottom of the fourth, but Saugerties right-handed reliever Izaiah Ayala (Mt. San Antonio) stranded two runners on base in the sixth, and recorded a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory and record his first save of the summer.
Saugerties starting right-handed pitcher Marko Gibbons (Marist) earned the win on the mound after allowing three hits, zero walks and zero runs with six strikeouts through the first 3.0 innings.
The Stallions scored four runs in the top of the first with the help of a two-run single from third baseman Jack Lawrence (Towson), a single from catcher Ty Gallagher (Hobart) and two errors made by the Outlaws. Lawrence finished the contest with a game-high three RBI.
Saugerties first baseman Evan Wainman (Polk State), who registered a team-best two hits, two RBI and two runs scored during the victory, provided an RBI double during the Stallions’ three-run inning in the top of the second.
Oneonta third baseman Connor Roche (Wagner) stepped to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, and he delivered a bases-clearing double to trim their deficit to 8-4. Right fielder Jack Hopko (Rhode Island) drove in Roche with a double later in the inning to complete the four-run frame.
Roche finished the game with one hit, one walk, a team-high two runs scored and a team-best three runs batted in, while center fielder Jarod Wade (Long Island) contributed a team-best two hits for the Outlaws.
Oneonta right-handed pitcher Patrick Dengler (Saint Rose) had a great relief outing for the Outlaws, allowing two hits, two walks and one unearned run with five strikeouts during the final 5.0 innings.
Game 2 – The Stallions scored all three of their runs in the top of the third with the help of a two-run single from second baseman Carson Clark (Wright State).
The Outlaws got one run back in the top of the bottom of the fifth via an RBI single from shortstop Ryan Leary (Wagner), but Saugerties relief pitchers Ethan Conrad (Marist) and Seth Lovell (Webber) both pitched 1.0 scoreless inning in relief to close out the victory. Lovell was credited with the save after stranding one runner on base during a hitless bottom of the seventh.
Saugerties starting left-handed pitcher Bryce Reimer (Bucknell) allowed three hits, one walk and zero runs with three strikeouts through the first 3.0 innings, then lefty TJ Lopez (Webber) was credited with the victory after conceding two hits, zero walks and one run with two strikeouts in 2.0 innings pitched in relief.
Center fielder Andrew Amato (Delaware) recorded a team-best two hits for the Stallions during their fifth consecutive victory. Third baseman Damion Kenealy (Polk State), left fielder Conor Kelly (UMass Lowell) and Wainman provided one hit and a run scored each during the win.
Wade was a perfect 3 for 3 at the plate for Oneonta during the setback. Right-handed reliever Sean Dertinger (Oswego) allowed zero hits, one walk and zero runs for the Outlaws during the final 2.0 innings.
Amsterdam Mohawks 9, Watertown Rapids 7
The Mohawks (22-1) built a 9-1 lead midway through the third inning, then held of the Rapids (8-14) who chipped away at their deficit with one run in five of the first six innings, followed by two runs in the bottom of the eighth.
Amsterdam right-handed reliever Maximilian Ramirez (Niagara) recorded the final nine outs for the Mohawks, including a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth, to secure the win and earn the save.
The Mohawks batted around the order and tallied seven runs in the top of the first inning. First baseman/catcher Luke Longo (NJIT), extra hitter Jaxson West (Alabama) and left fielder Dakota Duffalo (Utah) recorded three consecutive RBI singles during the frame. Longo finished the game with a double, a single, a run scored and a team-best two runs batted in.
Longo, Duffalo, shortstop Bruer Webster (Utah) and center fielder Jalen DeBose (Florida Atlantic) each registered two hits for the Mohawks during the win.
Amsterdam left-handed starting pitcher Tyler Sausville (New Haven) improved his record to 5-0 this summer after allowing seven hits, three walks and three runs with four strikeouts through the first 4.0 innings.
Watertown third baseman Nick Mazzotta (Fairleight Dickinson) delivered two hits, a walk and a game-high three runs batted in during the setback, while designated hitter Jax Miller (Walsh) provided three RBI and two runs scored, catcher David McCann (Virginia Tech) registered two hits, two RBI, two walks and a run scored, and center fielder Nick Locurto (Virginia Tech) contributed two hits, two walks, two runs and an RBI.
The Mohawks’ winning streak now stands at 13 games.
Niagara Power 14, Elmira Pioneers 1
The Power (11-7-1) held the Pioneers (12-8) scoreless during the final seven innings and added seven runs in the top of the eighth to end the game via run rule. The contest was played at Elmira’s Dunn Field.
Niagara right fielder Jackson Strong (Canisius) tallied a single, a double, a triple, a walk, three runs scored and a game-high four runs batted in during the victory, while left fielder Alex Dzimian (D’Youville) provided two hits, two runs scored and two RBI.
Right-handed starting pitcher Billy Morris (D’Youville) earned the win for the Power after limiting the home team to five hits, three walks and one run with five strikeouts during the first 6.0 innings. Right-hander Andrew Fairbrother (Niagara County) allowed zero hits, one walk and zero runs with two strikeouts during the final 2.0 innings to close out the victory.
Elmira designated hitter Aidan Blake (UMass Boston) recorded a team-best two hits during the setback, while third baseman Joe Muzio (Eckerd) drove in the Pios’ lone run with a single in the bottom of the first.
Glens Falls Dragons 8, Boonville Lumberjacks 0
The Dragons’ (8-11) pitching staff limited the Lumberjacks (6-16) to just four hits and two walks with 12 total strikeouts in nine innings on Saturday at East Field to record a shutout victory in East Division action.
Glens Falls starting right-handed pitcher Connor Bovair (North Carolina) allowed one hit, zero walks and zero runs with three strikeouts through the first 3.0 innings, then right-hander Zander Teator (Babson) took the ball and limited the visitors to one hit, one walk and zero runs with three strikeouts during the next 3.0 innings. Righty Riley Orr (Castleton) struck out five Boonville hitters with one hit, one walk and zero runs allowed in 2.0 innings, then right-hander Jesse Kuzmich pitched a scoreless top of the ninth with one strikeout to close out the victory.
Glens Falls extra hitter Trevor Dutra (Monroe) delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the first to break the 0-0 tie, then he smashed a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to extend the Dragons’ lead to 8-0.
First baseman Ryan Grace (Colby), third baseman Nick Marola (Coker) and catcher Kyle McNeff (UMass Dartmouth) each also provided two hits for Glens Falls during the home victory. Right fielder Odilio Cespedes (Bryant and Stratton) added a hit, two walks, a run and a stolen base for the Dragons.
Boonville catcher Joshua Lopez (Thomas Jefferson) was the only player to reach base safely twice for the Lumberjacks, registering a single and a walk.
Santiago Jimenez (Prince George) and extra hitter Bryce Collis (St. John Fisher) both recorded a double for the Lumberjacks during the setback.
Auburn DoubleDays 11, Geneva Red Wings 9
An eight-run inning in the top of the fifth gave the visiting Red Wings (4-13) a 9-3 advanatge over the DoubleDays (10-10), but Auburn staged a comeback with one run in the bottom of the fifth, three runs in the sixth, three more in the seventh and one in the eighth to claim an 11-9 win at Falcon Park in West Division action.
The West Division has been extremely competitive this season, with no team holding a winning percentage above 0.675. The DoubleDays currently have the fifth-best winning percentage in the division, but they are only 3.5 games out of first place.
The Red Wings drew six walks during the top of the fifth, and the eight-run inning was capped off by a three-run double from third baseman Ricardo Reyna (Vassar). Geneva scored their first run of the game in the top of the second on a leadoff solo home run from extra hitter Ethan Swidler (Lafayette), his second long ball of the summer.
Auburn shortstop Carson Gross (Northern Colorado) delivered a two-run single during the DoubleDays’ three-run inning in the bottom of the sixth, then first baseman Garrett Prosper (Pitt-Johnstown) helped tie the game at 9-9 with a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh. Following a pitching change, Prosper scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.
Auburn right fielder Tommy Roldan (Virginia) finished the game with a team-high two hits, including a triple, to go along with two walks and two runs scored.
Auburn right-handed pitcher Andrew Isdale (Northern Colorado) improved his record to 2-0 this summer after tossing 3.1 scoreless innings in relief with two hits allowed and two strikeouts. Righty Michael Sills (Wofford) tallied three strikeouts during a scoreless and hitless top of the ninth to record his first save of the campaign.
Batavia Muckdogs 7, Queen City 6