2023 PGCBL Championship – Game 1 – Best-of-Three Series

Amsterdam Mohawks 4, Elmira Pioneers 0

The Championship series began at Shuttleworth Park Wednesday evening, as the Pioneers made the trip to Amsterdam representing the West Division against the East’s Mohawks. Players were called out onto the field in formal introductions, and the crowd surely was ready, with the game’s first pitch being thrown at 6:50pm.

The first two innings were scoreless for both sides, with starters Joseph Keldsen (Elmira, Cal. St.) and Jack Seppings (Amsterdam, Brown) both looking sharp. This wouldn’t last too long, as this explosive Amsterdam offense would show some life the next inning. With Mohawks third baseman Gage Miller (Alabama) reaching on a hit-by-pitch and then moving to second on a single, EH Cam Gurney (Utah) came up big, smoking a single through the left side to score Miller and put the Mohawks up 1-0.

The score would hold there through the sixth inning. Keldsen pitched the first six for Elmira, giving up only that one run and striking out four, while the Mohawks’ Seppings pitched the first five, before being replaced by Peyton Fall (Central Florida) for the remainder of the game.

In the bottom of the seventh, still at 1-0, Mohawks first baseman Luke Longo (NJIT) decided insurance runs were needed, hitting an RBI double to double the Amsterdam lead. Then, still at 2-0 after the top of the eighth, back-to-back RBI singles off the bat of right fielder Zach Eldred (Brockport) and PH Mason Swinney (Alabama) stretched out the lead to 4-0, putting Amsterdam in full control.

Seppings and Fall combined for the nine inning shutout of Elmira, with Seppings pitching five innings with eight strikeouts, and then Fall coming in for the final four frames, striking out six. Seppings earned the win, while Fall got the save.

Pios third baseman Joe Muzio (Eckerd) continued to hit well, smacking two hits to lead the team. Catcher John Schroeder (Florida Atlantic) reached base twice for Elmira, with a hit and a walk. Pios starter Joseph Keldsen finished with an impressive line, going six innings, allowing just one run, and striking out four.

The Mohawks now lead the series 1-0, and we head to Elmira for a 6:35 start on Thursday to see if the Pioneers can tie the series or if Amsterdam will win another title.