Game 1: Elmira Pioneers 4, Geneva Red Wings 0… Game 2: Geneva Red Wings 4, Elmira Pioneers 0
The Pioneers and the Red Wings each claimed a 4-0 shutout victory on Thursday during a doubleheader at Elmira’s Dunn Field. Both contests were seven innings.
Game 1 – Right-handed pitcher Gardner Meeks (Roanoake) tossed a complete-game shutout to record his second win of the season. Meeks allowed just three hits and one walk with five strikeouts during the 7.0 innings to improve his ERA to 1.32.
The Pioneers broke the 0-0 tie in the bottom of first inning following an RBI single from second baseman Aidan Blake (UMass Boston). Elmira added three runs in the sixth with the help of an RBI single from designated hitter Jake Kelleher (ETSU) and a two-run double from center fielder Wes Gingerrich (Purdue).
Geneva starting pitcher Hayden Smith (Northeastern) tallied six strikeouts with one hit, five walks and one run allowed in 5.0 innings of work.
Game 2 – Four different players recorded an RBI for Geneva, while right-handed pitchers Kolby Mordecki (SUNY Plattsburgh) and Nick Pappas (UMass Dartmouth) held the Pioneers scoreless during the second half of the doubleheader.
Mordecki started on the mound for Geneva and allowed four hits, zero walks and zero runs with seven strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work to improve his record to 1-0 this season. Pappas allowed just one hit, one walk and zero runs with one strikeout during the final 2.0 innings to secure the win.
The game was tied 0-0 after two innings, then the Red Wing scored three runs in the top of the third via an RBI single from designated hitter Brennan Staubley (Franklin Pierce), an RBI hit by pitch from third baseman Danny Rogers (Central Connecticut State), and a sacrifice fly from first baseman Jason Shockley (Rutgers). Right fielder John Quinlan (Cornell) recorded an RBI single in the top of the fourth to extend Geneva’s lead to 4-0.
Elmira right-handed pitcher Joseph Keldsen (Cal. State) entered the game to begin the top of the fifth inning and held the visitors to two hits, zero walks and zero runs with two strikeouts during the final 3.0 innings.
Elmira designated hitter Frank Wayman (UMass Lowell) recorded a team-high two hits during the setback.
Niagara Power 4, Newark Pilots 3
The Power (8-3-1) earned a big one-run win at home on Thursday over the Newark Pilots (2-12) to maintain the best winning percentage in the West Division.
Niagara right-hander pitcher Billy Morris (D’Youville) started on the mound for the Power and allowed five hits, zero walks and one run with two strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work.
Niagara second baseman Andrew Stillinger (Niagara County) led off the bottom of the first with a single, then came around to score later in the inning to break the 0-0 tie. Stillinger then delivered a two-run triple in the bottom of the fifth and crossed the plate following a single from shortstop Zach Evans (Lenoir-Rhyne). Stillinger finished the contest with two hits, one walk, two runs and two RBI, while Evans added two hits, a walk and an RBI.
Newark got two runs back in the top of the eighth to trim their deficit to 4-3, then they put runners on first and second with nobody out in the top of the ninth. Niagara then brought in right-hander Tom Bednarski (Niagara), who got a ground ball double play and a ground ball fielder’s choice to end the game and earn the save.
Newark right-handed pitcher Josh Ferris (St. John Fisher) threw 3.0 scoreless innings in relief for the Pilots.
Amsterdam Mohawks 11, Watertown Rapids 1
The Mohawks (16-1) held a 9-1 lead against the Rapids (6-10) after four innings on Thursday at Shuttleworth Park, then they added two runs in the bottom of the eighth to end the game via run rule.
The Mohawks have now won seven games in a row and are in first place in the East Division Standings.
Center fielder Jalen DeBose (Florida Atlantic) launched a grand slam home run on Thursday in the bottom of the second inning, then extra hitter Jaxon West (Alabama) smashed a three-run home run in the bottom of the third. Right fielder Zach Eldred (Brockport) recorded two doubles during the victory, while second baseman Bruer Webster (Utah) registered two hits, a stolen base and a game-high two runs scored.
Amsterdam right-handed starting pitcher Dylan Reid (Brown) earned the win on the mound after allowing two hits, one walk and one run with four strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work. Right-hander Joe Gold (Boston College) tossed 2.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts, then righty Von Baker (Cornell) recorded a 1-2-3 inning with one strikeout in the top of the eighth.
Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs 6, Utica Blue Sox 5
The DiamondDawgs (12-4) earned a walk-off win in extra innings over the Blue Sox (6-8) on Thursday at Veterans Memorial Park.
Designated hitter Mitch Balint (Carson-Newman) was placed on second base to begin the bottom of the tenth due to the international tie breaker rule and he came around to score on two wild pitches to score the game-winning run.
The Blue Sox led 5-4 after eight innings, but the DiamondDawgs tied the game in the bottom of the ninth on a clutch pinch-hit RBI single from Owen Pincince (New Haven)
MV center fielder Jaden Ross (Hudson Valley) recorded two hits, one walk, one run and one RBI during the victory, while second baseman Corey Adams (William & Mary) and catcher Brian Heckelman (Towson) both drew three walks. Heckelman scored a game-high two runs.
Utica first baseman Will Shannon (Hillsdale) recorded two hits, one run, one walk and three RBI during the setback. Shannon ripped an RBI triple in the top of the first to break the 0-0 tie, then he smashed a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to make it 5-0 in favor of the Blue Sox.
Mohawk Valley left-handed pitcher Matt Alduino (Quinnipiac) entered the game to begin the top of the eighth and completed 3.0 scoreless innings with zero hits, two walks and zero runs allowed and two strikeouts to improve his record to 2-0 this season.
Utica right-handed starting pitcher Daly Skees (Hillsdale) limited the home team to two hits, three walks and zero runs with three strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work.
Batavia Muckdogs 8, Jamestown Tarp Skunks 7
The Muckdogs (10-7) earned a walk-off victory at home on Thursday over the Jamestown Tarp Skunks (7-6-1).
The Tarp Skunks held a 7-4 lead after five innings, then the Muckdogs scored two in the bottom of the sixth and one in the seventh to tie the game.
Center fielder Anthony Calabro (West Georgia) drove in the game-tying run in the seventh, then right fielder Josh Leadem (Rochester) recorded a one-out single with nobody on in the bottom of the ninth and came around to score later in the inning on a wild pitch to complete the victory for Batavia.
Calabro finished the contest with two hits, a walk, a run and an RBI, while third baseman Giuseppe Arcuri (Saint Leo) registered a single and a two-run double. Batavia first baseman Henry Daniels (West Georgia) added a single, a double, a run scored and an RBI during the victory.
Batavia right-handed starting pitcher Julian Pichardo (Fort Lauderdale) completed 5.0 innings of work for a no decision. Right-handers Aidan Cooney (Rochester) and Ben Weber (Salve Regina) both pitched 1.0 scoreless inning in relief, then righty Trey Bacon (Santa Fe), who leads the league with five saves in 2023, got the final six outs without allowing a hit or a run to earn his first win of the season.
Jamestown shortstop Tommy Googins (Princeton) recorded two hits and a game-high four RBI during the setback, while center fielder Paul Catalano (Fairfield) added two hits, two runs scored and an RBI.
Boonville Lumberjacks 9, Oneonta Outlaws 6
The Lumberjacks (6-8) scored two runs in four consecutive innings on Thursday to earn a victory at home in East Division action.
Boonville catcher Joshua Lopez (Thomas Jefferson), making his season debut with the Lumberjacks, went 4 for 4 at the plate with a solo home run, two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored against the Outlaws (6-8). Shortstop Marcus Smith (Cincinnati) recorded three hits, three RBI and one run scored for the Lumberjacks, while second baseman Eli Snelson (Union) added two hits, two RBI and a run scored.
Left-handed pitcher Ryan Sullivan (Colby) was credited with the win after throwing 2.2 innings in relief. Right-hander Ben Bohlman (Colby) did not allow a hit or a run during the final 2.0 innings for Boonville to earn the save.
Oneonta left-hander Anthony Aleman (Spring Hill) tallied six strikeouts in 3.0 innings in relief while allowing one hit, zero walks and one run. Extra hitter Logan Haskell (Binghamton) and third baseman Bayram Hot (Marist) recorded two hits, two RBI and one run scored each during the setback.
Game 1: Glens Falls Dragons 7, Saugerties Stallions 6… Game 2: Glens Falls Dragons 7, Saugerties Stallions 3
The Dragons took both games of a doubleheader at the Stallions’ (6-7) Cantine Veterans Memorial Field.
Game 2 – The Dragons took game two with the help of a five-run inning in the top of the first.
Designated hitter Odilio Cespedes (Bryant and Stratton) broke the 0-0 tie with an RBI single, then shortstop Zander Teator (Babson) delivered a three-run triple later in the inning, which was followed by an RBI single to right field from third baseman Jack Griffin (Saint Rose). Teator, second baseman Johan Sandoval (Bryant and Stratton), and left fielder Arit Moreno (Atlantis) each recorded two hits and a run scored during the victory, while extra hitter Trevor Dutra (Monroe) registered a team-high three hits.
Right-handed pitcher Billy Canale (Le Moyne) was credited with the win after throwing the final 5.0 innings of the game for Glens Falls, during which he allowed two runs with six strikeouts.
Saugerties third baseman Damion Kenealy (Polk State) recorded a team-high three hits and a run scored during the setback.