After a heroic walk-off single by Saugerties infielder Jarrett Brown to win game one, the stage was set for game two of the PGCBL Championship Series at Shuttleworth Park.
Amsterdam wasted no time getting runs on the board with a CJ Funk solo home run in the bottom of the first. Bryce Elbin was able to reach on base from an error by the Saugerties second baseman and a Jake Reinisch RBI double put the Mohawks up 2 – 0.
Saugerties responded quickly in the top of the second inning. With two outs and no one on base, Colin Mackle’s single to right field ignited a rally that would prove costly for the Mohawks. A Max Morris walk put runners in scoring position for Nick Iverson who drove home Mackle with a single to left field. Jarrett Brown advanced on a walk to load the bases for Josh Stevenson. Stevenson rose to the challenge with a grand slam to put the Stallions up 5 – 2 in the top of the second inning.
A single from Stone Miyao, Davis Meche, and a Matt Shaw sacrifice fly put another run on the board for the Mohawks but they still trailed by two at the end of the second inning.
The Stallions were able to continue their momentum in the top of the third inning with a single from Kip Fougerousse followed by three walks from the Amsterdam pitching staff. With the bases loaded, Fougerousse was able to score from a Max Morris walk followed by another RBI single from Iverson to put the Stallions up 7 – 3.
Like the previous two innings, the Amsterdam Mohawks kept fighting. A single from Bryce Elbin and a Jake Reinisch walk put the Mohawks in a strong offensive position, capitalized on by a two RBI double from Stone Miyao. After three innings of play, the Stallions kept their lead with a score of 7 – 5.
In the top of the fourth, Jake Renwick advanced to first base on a dropped third strike. An error on the pitcher Ian Cooke moved him to second, and two wild pitches allowed him to score for the Stallions. Amsterdam was unable to respond with the score now 8 – 5 after four innings of play.
The fifth inning was highlighted by an amazing defensive play from Amsterdam third baseman Brett Coker. Max Morris hit a short chopper down the line that Coker was able to grab barehanded off the bounce and throw Morris out at first. This play was impressive enough to be number eight on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top Ten Plays. After five innings, the score remained 8 – 5.
A defensive error and wild pitch put Jarrett Brown in scoring position for the Stallions. Kip Fougerousse brought him home with a single to center field, now putting the Stallions up by four runs. Amsterdam could not get much going offensively to end the sixth inning still trailing.
Amsterdam pitcher Ian Cooke was replaced in the top of the seventh inning by Jack Sullivan. Cooke threw a total of 4.0 innings giving up only two hits while striking out nine. Despite the pitching change, Andrew Wilhite smacked a solo home run for some insurance. However, Brett Coker responded with a home run of his own as the game was heading to the final two innings of play. After seven, Saugerties holds their lead with a score of 10 – 6.
In the top of the eighth, the Saugerties offense took over the game. Singles by Stevenson and Fougerousse followed by a hit by pitch for Verdusco loaded the bases. Andrew Wilhite hit a single to right field that scored Stevenson and Fougerousse. An error on the third baseman scored Verdusco which now put the Stallions up 13 – 6.
The pitching of Richie Cimpric and Ben Johnson kept Amsterdam from scoring in the bottom of the eighth and ninth innings. The duo combined for 6.1 innings pitched, four hits, one earned run, and five strikeouts.
With a final score of 13 – 6, the Saugerties Stallions win the 2021 PGCBL Championship.