(WATERTOWN, NY)– Albany Dutchmen headed west for a midweek showdown against Watertown Rapids, and fell by a final of 10-9.
The two teams combined for 28 hits, Watertown tallied 15 while Albany racked up 13. The Dutchmen offense featured a two-hit night from each hitter slotted 3-6 in the lineup, Nick Schwartz (SNHU), Matt Bergevin (Fairfield), Chance Checca (Herkimer) and Anthony Raimo Jr. (Rhode Island). Clay Grady (Virginia Tech) was an on-base machine on the evening for the Rapids in his five-hit evening at Duffy Fairgrounds.
David Silva Jr. (Ohio Dominican) and Tyler Young (Lehigh) were plunked as the first two batters of the evening, before Matt Bergevin (Fairfield) put Albany on the board with a double that moved everyone up two bases. Bergevin’s two-bagger was immediately followed by a sacrifice fly from Chance Checca (Herkimer) to give Albany a quick two-run lead.
Three straight Watertown singles in the bottom of the first ended in an Elvis Lopez (Bloomfield) RBI that scored the leadoff man Ellis Schwartz (Emory). Watertown equalized the game as Lopez’ collegiate teammate Tyree Bradley (Bloomfield) picked up the sacrifice fly, which would serve as his first of three RBIs on the evening.
Albany opened the lead up to 6-2 heading into the bottom of the 5th. A two-run 2nd inning was highlighted by a Ty Gallagher (Herkimer) leadoff double, and a Tyler Young (Lehigh) RBI single, a 3rd inning Caden Shapiro (Princeton) sacrifice fly opened the lead up, and a 4th inning Anthony Raimo Jr. (Rhode Island) RBI single gave the Dutchmen their largest lead of the night.
Watertown was able to hang around as Jake Humes (Onondaga) went yard in the bottom of the 5th, and Tyree Bradley (Bloomfield) blasted a solo shot of his own in the home half of the 6th to cut the deficit to two runs.
The home half of the 7th featured four Watertown runs, and would serve as the highest scoring half inning of the night. Two errors gave the Rapids two quick runs in their first three at-bats of the frame. Clay Grady (Virginia Tech) picked up an RBI to give Watertown their first lead of the night, and a Tyree Bradley (Bloomfield) double gave the Rapids a two-run edge.
Albany came right back in the top of the 8th as three straight singles to start the frame ended in a Caden Shapiro (Princeton) RBI that brought in Chance Checca (Herkimer). Ty Gallagher (Herkimer) gave the Dutchmen a productive first out as his sacrifice fly brought home Anthony Raimo Jr. (Rhode Island) to tie the ballgame up.
In the top of the 9th, David Silva Jr. (Ohio Dominican) drew the leadoff walk, and the PGCBL’s stolen base leader was able to bait two balks to advance to 3rd base. Nick Schwartz (SNHU) picked up the go-ahead RBI single, but Watertown was not quite out.
Watertown loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the 9th courtesy of a pair of singles and a walk. A bases loaded hit by pitch brought the tying run in, and Hunter Ryan (Wabash Valley) served as the walkoff hero on his base hit single.
The loss marks the last regular season game against a West opponent. Albany is back on the road Thursday, July 21st, for a 6:30 first pitch at Mohawk Valley.