Seven games were completed on Sunday. The Pilots got a win on the road, the Mohawks matched their 8-0 start from last season, and the Tarp Skunks remain atop the West Division after a two-run road victory, among other exciting contests to end the week.
Photo taken by James Farrance
Newark Pilots 7, Auburn DoubleDays 6
The Pilots scored six runs in the top of the fifth against the DoubleDays on Sunday to claim their first win of the 2023 campaign. Catcher Dom Camera (Hofstra) recorded a team-high three hits during the victory, while third baseman Tim Wagner (Wheaton) drove in two runs for the Pilots with a single in the fifth inning. Newark right-hander Brantley Griggs (Cayuga) struck out four batters in 3.0 innings in relief to get the victory on the mound, and left-hander Michael Walsh (Maryland) pitched a scoreless inning in the bottom of the ninth to earn the save for Newark.
After Newark broke the 0-0 tie with a run in the top of the first inning, the DoubleDays scored four runs in the bottom of the first with the help of a two-run double from catcher Benji Ries (Le Moyne).
Center fielder Frank Vanzillotta (Brockport) drove in the first run of Newark’s six-run inning with a double. He promptly stole third base then crossed the plate following an RBI single from left fielder Justin DiMartino (Farmingdale State). Vanzillotta finished the game with one hit, a walk, a hit by pitch, an RBI, two runs scored and three stolen bases. He now has eight stolen bases on the season, one behind the league leader.
Extra hitter Garrett Prosper (Pitt-Johnstown) recorded two hits, a walk and two runs scored for Auburn during the setback. Left-hander Cooper Polcovich (WVU Potomac State) pitched the final 2.2 innings for the DoubleDays and allowed just one walk, zero hits and zero runs with one strikeout.
The Pilots (1-6) will take on the Jamestown Tarp Skunks on Monday at 6:30 p.m., while the DoubleDays (3-3) will travel to Batavia for a 6:35 p.m. meeting with the Muckdogs on Monday.
Jamestown Tarp Skunks 5, Elmira Pioneers 3
The Pioneers (4-3) scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, but their comeback effort came up short and the Tarp Skunks (5-1) left Dunn Field with a 5-3 victory to stay atop the West Division Standings.
Jamestown designated hitter Drew Garth (Seton Hill) recorded two hits, two RBI and a run scored during the victory, while right fielder Luc Fuller (Drury) added one hit, two hit by pitches and two RBI for the Tarp Skunks.
Left-handed starting pitcher Frank Villella (Nova Southeastern) earned the win for Jamestown after allowing just two hits, two walks and zero runs with five strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work. Lefty Andrew Ayers (St. Bonaventure) tossed the final 4.0 innings for the Tarp Skunks and tallied six strikeouts while allowing three hits, one walk and three runs.
Jamestown left fielder Kieran Gagnon (Gannon) registered four stolen bases during the victory to go along with a hit and a run scored.
The Tarp Skunks held a 3-0 advantage after seven innings, then they extended their lead to 5-0 in the top of the eighth on a two-run single from Garth.
The home team got three runs back in the bottom of the ninth with the help of a two-run single from center fielder Wes Gingerrich (Purdue). Elmira extra hitter Matt Granato (St. Thomas) provided a team-high two hits and a stolen base during the setback.
Jamestown will return home for 6:30 p.m. matchup against Newark on Monday, while the Pioneers will travel to Geneva on Monday for a 7:05 p.m. contest against the Red Wings.
Amsterdam Mohawks 16, Watertown Rapids 7
The Mohawks (8-0) took a 9-0 lead after two innings and cruised to a 16-7 victory over the Rapids (3-7) on Sunday at Watertown’s Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds Stadium. Just like last season, the Mohawks have won their first eight games of the campaign.
First baseman/right fielder Zach Eldred (Brockport) led Amsterdam at the plate on Sunday with four hits, three runs scored, and six runs batted in, including a three-run home run in the top of the second inning.
Eldred is now slashing .462/.576/.692 with 14 RBI, two home runs and 12 hits through eight games played so far this season.
Second baseman/shortstop Gage Miller (Bishop State) also launched a home run during the second inning on Sunday, giving him a league-high four home runs in 2023.
Left fielder Dakota Duffalo (Utah) added a double, a single and three RBI to the Amsterdam cause.
Right-hander Evan Siary (Mississippi State) earned the win on the mound for the Mohawks after tallying six strikeouts in 5.0 innings while conceding three hits, one run and two walks. Right-hander Von Baker (Cornell) pitched the final 2.0 innings for the visitors and surrendered two hits, zero runs and zero walks with two strikeouts.
Watertown designated hitter Gaetan Grandelli (West Chester) recorded a team-high four runs batted in via a grand slam home run in the bottom of the seventh.
Center fielder Jax Miller (Walsh) provided a team-high three hits for the Rapids. Miller is currently slashing .471/.514/.618 through 10 games played this summer.
The Mohawks will take Monday off before hosting Glens Falls on Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. The Rapids will travel to Utica on Monday for a 6:45 p.m. battle against the Blue Sox.
Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs 9, Boonville Lumberjacks 0
The DiamondDawgs (6-2) shutout the Lumberjacks (3-5) on Sunday to claim their fifth consecutive victory and remain in second place in the East Division Standings.
Mohawk Valley second baseman Corey Adams (William and Mary) contributed two runs, a game-high three hits (including two doubles), one walk and two RBI, while first baseman Sebastian Mueller (Quinnipiac) recorded a game-high four runs batted in to go along with a walk, a hit and a run scored.
DiamondDawgs right-handed starting pitcher Colin Ruddy (George Washington) allowed just three hits, zero runs and zero walks with eight strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work to earn his first victory of the campaign. Righty Colin Dowlen (Seton Hall) conceded zero hits, zero runs and one walk with four strikeouts in 2.0 innings in relief for the DiamondDawgs, then right-hander Troy Butler (UNC Charlotte) pitched a scoreless top of the ninth to end the game.
The DiamondDawgs led 1-0 after four innings, then they added four runs in the bottom of the fifth with the help of a three-run double from Mueller.
MV designated hitter Mitch Balint (Carson-Newman) added one hit, one run and one RBI on Sunday, giving him a league-best 15 runs batted in with a .467/.568/.700 slash line through seven games played this season.
Left fielder Owen Pincince (New Haven) recorded one hit, one walk, one RBI and a game-high three runs scored for the DiamondDawgs on Sunday, giving him a league-high 13 runs scored through eight games played.
The DiamondDawgs will travel to Oneonta on Monday for a 7:00 p.m. matchup against the Outlaws.
Boonville will take Monday off then travel to Utica on Tuesday for a 6:45 p.m. contest against the Blue Sox.
Geneva Red Wings 4, Batavia Muckdogs 2
The Red Wings (2-4) outscored the Muckdogs (3-3) 2-0 during the final four innings on Sunday at Geneva’s McDonough Park to claim a 4-2 victory.
After Geneva starting pitcher Drew Munn (Central Connecticut State) limited the visitors to five hits, two runs, one earned run, and three walks with eight strikeouts through the first 5.1 innings, lefty Alex Deutsch (Wesleyan) allowed two hits, two walks and zero runs with two strikeouts in 2.1 innings in relief to get the win. Geneva right-handed reliever Joey Kasper got the final five outs without allowing a hit or a run to earn the save.
Left fielder Parker Walsh (Lafayette) scored a game-high two runs for the Red Wings to go along with a hit and two stolen bases, while catcher Brennan Staubley (Franklin Pierce) added a hit, a run and an RBI.
First baseman Henry Daniels (West Georgia) and shortstop Caleb Rodriguez (Kean) both recorded a team-best two hits for the Muckdogs, and Rodriguez added an RBI and two stolen bases.
Left-hander Preston Prince (Niagara) started on the mound for Batavia and allowed one hit, one earned run and zero walks with five strikeouts in 4.0 innings of work.
Batavia will return home on Monday for a 6:35 p.m. matchup against the Auburn DoubleDays, while the Red Wings will host Elmira on Monday at 7:05 p.m. at McDonough Park.
Glens Falls Dragons 10, Oneonta Outlaws 4
The Glens Falls bullpen did not allow a run during the final five innings and first baseman Ryan Grace (Colby) tallied three hits and three runs batted in to lead the Dragons (2-3) to a 10-4 victory over the Outlaws (3-5) on Sunday at East Field.
Harry Berezansky (Penn West), Owen Goodridge (Assumption), Ryan Alt (Lyndon State), Bryan Camaj (Bryant and Stratton) and Andrew Kramer (Lock Haven) each threw 1.0 scoreless inning in relief on Sunday. Berezansky, who tossed the fifth inning, was credited with the win. Starting pitcher Patrick Reilly (Central Connecticut) allowed just one earned run with five strikeouts through the first 4.0 innings for the Dragons.
Along with Grace, designated hitter Odilio Cespedes (Bryant and Stratton) also recorded three hits during the victory, including two doubles. Cespedes added two runs and an RBI. Right fielder Arit Moreno (Atlantis) scored a game-high three runs for the Dragons with a single, a double and a walk, while shortstop Nick Marola (Coker) contributed a run, a hit and two RBI.
Oneonta catcher Anthony Barone (Oswego State) recorded a team-best two hits during the setback, while extra hitter Christopher Ubner (St. Thomas Aquinas) drove in two runs with a single in the top of the fourth.
The Dragons will travel to Amsterdam on Tuesday for a 6:45 p.m. matchup against the undefeated Mohawks, while the Outlaws will host Mohawk Valley on Monday 7:00 p.m.
Saugerties Stallions 3, Albany Dutchmen 2
The Stallions (2-3) scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI single from second baseman Alex Rodriguez (Mt. San Antonio) to claim a 3-2 win over the Dutchmen (4-4) at Cantine Veterans Memorial Field.
Left fielder Andrew Amato (Delaware) and first baseman Evan Wainman (Polk State) both contributed a team-best two hits during the win. Amato added a run scored and Wainman drove in a run.
The Stallions used eight different pitchers during the victory. Right-hander Nolan Phillips (St. Thomas) was credited with the win after three strikeouts during a 1-2-3 top of the seventh. Right-hander Steven Freer (Le Moyne) pitched a scoreless frame in the top of the eighth, then lefty Bryce Reimer (Bucknell) pitched a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts in the top of the ninth to earn the save and secure the win for the Stallions. The Saugerties pitching staff surrendered three hits in total on Sunday, and they did not allow a hit during the final four innings.
Righty Jacob Maurer (Lafayette) started on the mound for Albany and conceded five hits, one run and two walks with three strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work.
Center fielder Vince Venditti (Saint Rose) recorded a hit, a walk and a run scored for the Dutchmen during the setback, while third baseman Brody Keneston (Le Moyne) reached base twice with two walks.
The Stallions and the Dutchmen will play again on Monday at 6:35 p.m. at Albany’s Keenholts Park.