Six games were completed on Friday, including a doubleheader between Batavia and Auburn. Game two of a doubleheader between Watertown and Utica was postponed, along with a single contest between Niagara and Geneva. Glens Falls and Saugerties were in the middle of a one-run game when the contest was suspended due to the weather.
Game 1: Batavia Muckdogs 9, Auburn DoubleDays 0… Game 2: Batavia Muckdogs 1, Auburn DoubleDays 0
The Muckdogs (6-3) earned a pair of shutout victories over the DoubleDays (4-5) at home on Friday. Both contests were seven innings.
Game 1 –
Batavia right fielder Kyle Hetherington (Lipscomb) recorded two hits, a run, and a game-high two RBI during the first half of Friday’s doubleheader. Seven different Muckdogs recorded an RBI during the victory, and nine of the 10 players in the lineup crossed the plate. Nine different Muckdogs recorded a hit during the game as well.
Batavia right-handed starting pitcher Ty Woods (Genesee) conceded one hit, one walk and zero runs with three strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work to earn his first win of the campaign, then left-hander Trace Florio (Lafayette) tossed a scoreless top of the seventh to complete the shutout.
Game 2 –
Right-hander Julian Pichardo (Fort Lauderdale) delivered a complete-game shutout, allowing just three hits, one walk and zero runs with nine strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work.
Pichardo now holds a 2-0 record with a 0.95 ERA through three starts (19.0 innings pitched).
The Muckdogs scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the third on an RBI single from shortstop Lucas Lopez (St. Thomas). First baseman Sean Ladd (Dallas College Mountain View) scored the run.
Auburn left-hander Huxley Holcombe (Cornell) provided a quality start for the DoubleDays during the second half of the doubleheader, limiting the home team to three hits, one run and three walks with three strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work. Right-hander Michael Sills (Wofford) relieved Holcombe and pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth.
The Muckdogs and the DoubleDays are scheduled to play another doubleheader in Auburn on Saturday at 5:00 and 7:05 p.m.
Watertwon Rapids 8, Utica Blue Sox 6
The Rapids (4-7) and the Blue Sox (4-6) were initially scheduled to play a doubleheader, but the second contest was postponed. The one game they played was a seven-inning contest.
The Rapids scored four runs in the top of the seventh to lift themselves to an 8-6 win over the Blue Sox at Utica’s Donovan Stadium.
Gaetan Grandelli (West Chester) launched a go-ahead three-run home run in the top of the seventh following an RBI single from right fielder Jax Miller (Walsh).
Watertown designated hitter Owen Parliament (Oswego) recorded a team-high three hits during the win to go along with an RBI and a run scored. Miller finished the game with two runs scored, a walk, a hit and a RBI.
Right-hander Ryan Peters (Brockport) earned the win on the mound after tossing the final 3.2 innings in relief without allowing an earned run. Peters now holds a 3-0 record with a 0.77 ERA through three appearances this season (11.2 innings pitched).
Utica shortstop Pablo Santos (Rutgers) recorded a team-high three hits, and a team-high two runs scored to go along with an RBI during the setback.
Utica starting pitcher Cole Syversen (Valparaiso) recorded five strikeouts and did not allow an earned run in 4.0 innings of work.
The Rapids will return to action on Saturday when they host Amsterdam for a 6:00 p.m. matchup, while the Blue Sox will travel to Albany on Saturday for a doubleheader against the Dutchmen at 5:00 and 7:30 p.m.
Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs 14, Oneonta Outlaws 13
The DiamondDawgs (8-2) defeated the Outlaws (4-6) in a thrilling high-scoring affair to extend their winning streak to seven games.
The Dawgs scored eight runs in the bottom of the fourth, and they weathered a late comeback effort from the Outlaws to claim the victory on their home field.
Mohawk Valley designated hitter Mitch Balint (Carson-Newman) recorded three hits, three runs scored and a game-high six RBI during the victory, including a three-run home run during the team’s eight-run inning in the fourth. Balint’s 21 runs batted in so far this season are the most in the PGCBL. He also leads the league in hits with 18.
Right fielder Brady Shannon (Central Florida) added three RBI for the DiamondDawgs, while shortstop Justin Hackett (Bryant) recorded two hits, a walk, two RBI and a run scored.
MV starting pitcher Hayden Duke (UMass Lowell) recorded the win on the mound after striking out six hitters in 6.0 innings of work. Right-hander Sam Miller (Columbia) got the final four outs to earn the save for the DiamondDawgs.
Oneonta center fielder Dakota Britt (Herkimer) tallied two hits, two walks, three runs scored and three RBI during the setback.
Mohawk Valley is now 1.5 games back of Amsterdam for first place in the East Division Standings.
The DiamondDawgs will play at Boonville on Saturday at 6:45 p.m., while the Outlaws will host Glens Falls on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
Jamestown Tarp Skunks 1, Elmira Pioneers 0
Jamestown shortstop Grady Mee (Western Michigan) led off the bottom of the first inning with a double, and designated hitter Colin Houck (East Stroudsburg) drove him in with a base hit to provide the Tarp Skunks with enough run support to claim a shutout victory over the visiting Pioneers at Diethrick Park.
Jamestown starting pitcher Ryan Bilka (Wagner) went 4.0 innings while allowing just two hits, zero walks and zero runs with seven strikeouts, then left-hander Andrew Ayers (St. Bonaventure) was credited with the win after relieving Bilka and tossing 4.0 scoreless innings in relief with four strikeouts. Righty Patrick DeMarco (Ohio) got the first two outs in the top of the ninth, then left-hander Frank Villella (Nova Southeastern) earned the save after recording the final out.
Elmira starting pitcher Max Zentil (Ottawa) recorded five strikeouts with five hits, one run and zero walks allowed in 6.0 innings of work. Catcher John Schroeder (Florida Atlantic) and center fielder Wes Gingerrich (Purdue) both delivered two hits for the Pioneers during the setback.
Jamestown, Batavia and Elmira now each have six wins in the West Division Standings, while the Niagara Power have the best winning percentage in the West with a 5-2 record.
The Tarp Skunks (6-3-1) will take Saturday off before traveling to Geneva on Sunday for a doubleheader against the Red Wings at 5:05 and 7:05 p.m., while the Pioneers (6-4) will host Newark on Saturday at 6:35 p.m.
Amsterdam Mohawks 6, Albany Dutchmen 1
The Mohawks (10-1), coming off their first loss of the campaign, took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on Friday, then added insurance runs in the fourth, fifth and eighth frames to claim a 6-1 win over the visiting Dutchmen (5-6) at Shuttleworth Park.
After back-to-back doubles from second baseman Gage Miller (Bishop State) and first baseman Cam Gurney (Utah) broke the 0-0 tie in the bottom of the first, extra hitter Luke Longo (NJIT) launched his third home run of the campaign, a two-run shot, to extend the Mohawks’ lead to 3-0.
Miller and Gurney both finished the game with two runs scored. Miller added two hits, and Gurney recorded three doubles during the victory.
Amsterdam right-hander Dylan Reid (Brown) was credited with the win after tossing 4.0 scoreless innings in relief with five strikeouts and zero walks. Right-handers Jack Seppings (Brown) and Jack Brodsky (Tampa) both pitched 1.0 scoreless inning in relief to close out the game.
Albany center fielder Vince Venditti (Saint Rose) recorded one hit and two walks during the setback, along with his league-leading 13th stolen base of the season.
Amsterdam is 1.5 games ahead of Mohawk Valley for first place in the East Division Standings.
The Mohawks will travel to Watertown on Saturday for a 6:00 p.m. matchup against the Rapids, while the Dutchmen will host Utica on Saturday for a doubleheader at 5:00 and 7:30 p.m.