League Champs

2003 2012
2004 2013
2009 2014
2010 2016
2019

Team History

After 30+ years in the New York Collegiate Baseball League, in 2011, the Mohawks joined the newly formed Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League which combined some of the better summer baseball franchises in the nation and partnered them with Perfect Game USA, the world's utmost leader in scouting and reporting services. 

The Mohawks, who were located in Schenectady prior to 2003, have won NYCBL championships in 1988 under then head coach, and also former team owner/president Bob Bellizzi, again in 2003 under Bill Consiglio, in 2004 under Nicholas Enriquez, and in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2022 and 2023 under Keith Griffin. In 2002, Dave Fields, led the team to a regular season title but lost the deciding game of the championship series to the Hornell Dodgers. Again in 2005, John Thomson guided the Mohawks to a regular season crown but was eliminated in the playoffs, and in 2011 Griffin led the team to a deciding Game 3 in the Championship series but lost a heartbreaker to the Newark Pilots. In 2015, the Mohawks also won the PGCBL Eastern Division title and broke the wins record in the league amassing a 40-10 regular season record. In 2017, late season injuries plagued an ultra-talented Mohawks’ team that won the PGCBL East with a runaway 36-12 record (won 24 of 25 during one stretch) but lost in the Eastern Division semi-finals. 2021 saw the Mohawks win a league best 31 games, compiling a 31-9 record but lost in the PGCBL Finals as well. 2022 was the Mohawks best ever season as they went 43-7-1, won the PGCBL Championship and were named the Summer Collegiate Team of the Year by Perfect Game USA.

In addition, there have been well over 200 former Mohawks who have signed professional baseball contracts, currently including over including San Francisco Giants phenom Hunter Pence (Texas-Arlington) who played for the Mohawks in 2002, Luke Maile (Kentucky) of the Cincinnati Reds, Matt Gage (Siena) of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Trey Wingenter (Auburn) of the Detroit Tigers, Mark Leiter Jr. (NJIT) of the Chicago Cubs, Zach Logue (Kentucky) of the Atlanta Braves, Tim Herrin (Indiana) of the Cleveland Guardians, Joe LaSorsa (St. John's) of the Washington Nationals and Andrew Saalfrank (Indiana) of the Arizona Diamondbacks. John Nogowski (Florida State), Chandler Shepherd (Kentucky), Cord Phelps (Stanford), Brendan Harris (William and Mary), Logan Darnell (Kentucky), Glen Barker (Saint Rose), Valentino Pascucci (U. Of Oklahoma) and Tim Christman (Siena) were also former Mohawks who played in the big leagues. In 2019, the Mohawks set a record with 23 former players drafted. In 2020 Justin Foscue (Mississippi State) became the first former Mohawk taken in the first round as the Texas Rangers selected him with the 14th overall pick. In 2023, Matt Shaw (Maryland) became the Mohawks highest draft pick as the Cubs selected him 13th overall. Currently, the Mohawks have over 70 former players in professional baseball.

The Mohawks have grown into one of the top places to play summer baseball in America. The players will note that the game atmosphere at Rao Family Stadium at Shuttleworth Park is one of the best in the country and with large enthusiastic crowds and getting the kids involved -  after seeing a game, you would see their point.

The league will continue to have current college stars and future professional players in it. Make sure you come out to the ballpark to catch some of the exciting brand of baseball that they have to offer. See you at the game!!!

Mohawk Baseball Club results since joining the NYCBL

YEAR
1986
1987
1988^
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999^
2000
2001
2002^
2003^
2004
2005^
2006
2007
2008
2009^
2010^
2011
2012^
2013^
2014^
2015^
2016^
2017^
2018^
2019^
2020
2021^
2022^
2023^

 


Bold League Champions (12)

^Division Champions (18)

 

RECORD
18-22 (.450)
28-12 (.700)
34-8 (.809)
27-13 (.675)
26-16 (.619)
20-20 (.500)
20-20 (.500)
23-17 (.575)
21-19 (.525)
22-20 (.524)
22-18 (.550)
23-19 (.548)
10-32 (.238)
28-12 (.700)
18-22 (.450)
21-19 (.525)
33-14 (.702)
35-12 (.745)
27-18 (.563)
30-20 (.600)
21-24 (.467) 
17-25 (.405) 
29-16 (.644) 
36-12 (.750) 
33-15 (.688) 
33-19 (.635)
39-13 (.750)
35-18-1 (.660)
40-11 (.784)
41-12 (.774)
39-16 (.709)
37-14 (.725)
33-19 (.635)
38-13 (.745)
13-13 (.500)
32-11-1 (.739)
43-7-1 (.853)
40-5-1 (.880)

HEAD COACH
Don McDonald
Don McDonald
Bob Bellizzi
Bob Bellizzi
Bob Bellizzi
Brian Spagnola
Brian Spagnola
Brian Spagnola
Ken Hodge 
Ken Hodge
Tom Fleenor
Tom Fleenor
Rich Seebode
Dennis Healy
Dennis Healy
Tim Felty
Dave Fields
Bill Consiglio
Nicholas Enriquez
John Thomson
Matt Mueller
Chris Smart
Kevin Downing
Keith Griffin
Keith Griffin
Keith Griffin
Keith Griffin
Keith Griffin
Keith Griffin
Keith Griffin
Keith Griffin
Keith Griffin
Keith Griffin
Keith Griffin
Greg Christodulu
Keith Griffin
Keith Griffin
Keith Griffin

 


TOTAL 977-538-4 (.645)


Mohawk Baseball Club Total
Career Coaching Wins

COACH
Keith Griffin
Bob Bellizzi
Brian Spagnola
Dennis Healy
Don McDonald
Tom Fleenor
Ken Hodge
WINS
519
87
63
46
45
45
43
YEARS WITH MOHAWKS
2009-2023
1988-1990
1991-1993
1999-2000
1986-1987
1996-1997
1994-1995


Mohawks Individual League Awards

   

     Player of the Year

     2022 - Gage Miller (Bishop State)

     2019 - Maxwell Costes (Maryland)

     2016 - Joe Genord (South Florida)

     2014 - Josh Gardiner (Radford)

     2013 - John Nogowski (Florida State)

     2009 - Brayden Kapteyn (Kentucky)

     2008 - Mark Onorati (Manhattan)

 

     Pitcher of the Year

     2021 - Nick Smith (Evansville)

     2015 - Zach Logue (Kentucky)

     2012 - Chandler Shepherd (Kentucky)

     2010 - Kyle Hunter (Dartmouth)

     2009 - Brayden Kapteyn (Kentucky)

     2004 - Derrick Gordon (Lamar)

 

     Relief Pitcher of the Year

     2022 - Santhosh Gottam (Brown)

 

     Coach of the Year

     2023 - Keith Griffin

     2022 - Keith Griffin

     2012 - Keith Griffin

     2009 - Keith Griffin

 

Mohawk Baseball Past Owner Bob Bellizzi

Bob Bellizzi, who passed away May 7, 2006, had been involved with college baseball for over twenty-five years and believed that Amsterdam was a perfect match for the Mohawks and the NYCBL. Before his passing he was thrilled with the success that the Mohawks had in their seasons in Amsterdam. "The combination of a sports minded city and an operator (Brian Spagnola) who was born and raised in Amsterdam, makes this a great place to play summer baseball...it was our intention to bring a quality level of collegiate baseball to Shuttleworth Park and provide entertainment and excitement throughout the season and that is what we did...the sense of cooperation and support exhibited by the community only confirmed our belief that Amsterdam was the ideal home for the Mohawk Baseball Club..." 

Bellizzi, the head coach at The College of Saint Rose from 1978 until his passing, had over the past quarter century, developed the Golden Knights into a national powerhouse at the NCAA Division II level. Saint Rose had made the NCAA Northeast Division II Regionals in 1994, 1995, 1997, and 2000. His 2000 team reached their ultimate goal by advancing to the NCAA Division II World Series in Montgomery, Alabama. Prior to that, at the NAIA level, Saint Rose made regional appearances in 1990 and 1991 and went to the 1990 NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.

Bellizzi boasted a staggering career record of 720-367-2 at Saint Rose and has enjoyed success at the club, NAIA, and NCAA levels. He had dozens of Saint Rose players continue their baseball careers at the professional level, including 1993 grad Glen Barker, who played for the Houston Astros at the major league level from 1999-2001. From 1988-1990, Bellizzi also guided the Schenectady Mohawks to a remarkable 87-37 record and won the league championship in 1988 with a 34-8 record. 




Mohawk Baseball Club Founder Hank Caputo

Hank Caputo was born in Sault Saint Marie, Ontario, but lived in the Capital Distict for many years. He worked for the Genearl Electric and the NY State Highway Department. He was a bus driver at Mohonasen High School and was also a custodian at Niskayuna High School before retiring in 1990. Caputo was also a Navy Veteran of World War II.

Caputo played hockey while residing in Canada and is a former professional referee and former scout for RPI’s hockey team. He was most remembered as the Commisiioner of the Northeast Collegiate Baseball League (now the NYCBL) from 1988 until retiring in 1992. He served as a scout for the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, and Montreal Expos. Caputo founded and was president of the Schenectady Baseball Club and was also a past president of Schenectady Connie Mack Baseball.

Caputo was inducted into the Schenectady Baseball Hall of Fame and was honored by the City of Schenectady for his involvement in local amatuer baseball. He received the Steve Lembo Award from the New York Professional Hot Stove League and was the recipient of a gold pass from the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues.

 

Team Offensive Stats

Year AVG GP-GS R Run/Per 2B 3B HR XBH SLG% BB SO OB% SB FLD%
2023 .319 42 376 8.95 89 7 27 123 .455 240 210 .437 75 .972
2022 .305 46 355 7.72 90 5 27 122 .424 241 309 .419 106 .973
2021 .285 42 297 7.07 89 10 28 127 .433 199 322 .396 78 .975
2020 .268 26 134 5.15 34 3 19 56 .406 99 221 .373 47 .966
2019 .297 46 353 7.67 77 14 46 137 .453 231 333 .406 95 .972
2018 .284 46 282 6.13 74 11 41 126 .423 211 342 .382 74 .967
2017 .309 48 364 7.58 94 11 43 148 .460 243 317 .415 102 .961
2016 .274 49 287 5.86 77 12 30 119 .393 222 319 .368 110 .965
2015 .286 50 319 6.38 92 6 42 140 .427 252 305 .395 96 .966
2014 .283 47 288 6.13 86 8 22 116 .394 219 283 .389 97 .967
2013 .299 48 316 6.58 91 3 36 130 .428 199 271 .401 75 .960
2012 .291 47 311 6.62 96 11 21 128 .399 189 318 .375 81 .965
2011 .288 47 259 5.51 75 7 37 119 .417 147 333 .364 39 .957
2010 .286 42 274 6.52 85 7 29 121 .418 172 262 .371 60 .968
2009 .290 42 254 6.05 75 5 29 109 .412 139 259 .369 50 .963
2008 .264 40 236 5.90 62 12 31 105 .394 157 305 .352 74 .954
2007 .262 42 226 5.38 73 10 20 103 .369 151 343 .352 51 .946
2006 .242 45 184 4.09 50 6 13 69 .313 159 318 .330 53 .949
2005 .217 49 173 3.53 51 14 9 74 .291 199 441 .321 87 .960
2004 .257 45 179 3.98 61 7 14 82 .342 153 312 .348 71 .960
2003 .284 47 277 5.89 73 12 10 95 .372 159 274 .373 66 .963
2002 .257 47 220 4.68 64 18 13 95 .352 187 312 .357 72 .957

 

Team Pitching Stats

Year ERA SO IP BB H AVG WHIP
2023 2.70 384 340.1 185 229 .188 1.216
2022 2.33 490 378 212 258 .196 1.243
2021 3.73 457 340.1 205 268 .213 1.390
2020 5.39 257 177 146 145 .223 1.644
2019 3.71 470 388 174 343 .230 1.332
2018 3.77 458 398.2 241 329 .220 1.430
2017 4.02 416 410.1 207 366 .231 1.396
2016 2.78 403 417.2 188 337 .215 1.257
2015 3.13 450 434 174 342 .210 1.189
2014 2.49 384 400.2 144 315 .215 1.146
2013 3.33 392 405.2 167 357 .234 1.292
2012 3.34 420 428.1 189 347 .223 1.251
2011 3.37 413 398 114 376 .248 1.231
2010 2.68 345 355.1 130 312 .235 1.244
2009 2.88 392 350 182 256 .200 1.251
2008 3.73 328 352.1 153 353 .257 1.436
2007 3.91 365 368.2 196 336 .240 1.443
2006 3.30 317 379 187 330 .234 1.364
2005 2.20 322 401.2 107 311 .217 1.041
2004 3.07 346 366 159 330 .237 1.336
2003 2.78 335 375 132 310 .223 1.179
2002 2.41 269 392.2 124 316 .217 1.121