The Mohawks have been a summer home for college baseball players since 1978. They were a member of the Northeastern Collegiate Baseball League from 1978 to 2001 and then it turned into the New York Collegiate Baseball League beginning in 2002. 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.

Beginning as the Schenectady Mohawks the club was founded in 1978 by Hank Caputo. In 1988, the Mohawks won their first NCBL title under first year head coach Bob Bellizzi, who was already an established head coach as he founded the baseball program at the College of St. Rose in 1979 and coached the Golden Knights until his passing in 2006. Bellizzi would coach the Mohawks until 1990 and then became the team owner and president. In 1990, Brian Spagnola was hired as an assistant coach for the Mohawks and was also Bellizzi's assistant at St. Rose from 1991-2003. When Bellizzi took over the Mohawks in 1991, Brian Spagnola became the Mohawks head coach where he was at the helm for 3 seasons and returned as an assistant coach for the 1994 season.

 (The 1988 Mohawks celebrate after winning the NCBL regular season championship trophy)

In 2003, Brian Spagnola became the Mohawks team owner and president which resulted in the team's relocation to Amsterdam and Shuttleworth Park.

Amsterdam and Shuttleworth Park have a long history of baseball. The park opened in 1914 as Crescent Park, it was renamed to Jollyland in 1923 and Mohawk Mills Park in 1934.

From 1938-1951 the Amsterdam Rugmakers were the New York Yankees Class C affiliate and won the Canadian-American League Championship in 1940. The Rugmakers would play the New York Yankees twice in exhibition games hosted in Amsterdam, once in 1942 and again in 1949. Eight days before the game in 1942, the stadium burned down, but the community banded together and rebuild the grandstand in time for the game and actually increased the stadium capacity. On July 20, 1942, there were 4,000 people in attendance as Joe DiMaggio hit a fourth inning home run over the right field fence and into the Chuctanunda Creek as the Yankees defeat the Rugmakers 9-5 in 10 innings. In May of 1949, a crowd of 4,564 watched as Yogi Berra and Phil Rizzuto came to town, but it was the former Rugmakers who were now on the Yankees that helped new manager Casey Stengel claim the victory. Dick Kryhoski hit a 3-run home run and Frank Shea pitched 3 scoreless innings for the win as the Yankees defeat the Rugmakers 9-2.

(Ceremony before the Rugmakers game against the New York Yankees in Amsterdam)

In 1977, the park was renamed after Herbert Shuttleworth, a chief executive of the Mohawk/Mohasco Carpet Mills and was the Rugmakers team president. He was also responsible for the lights being installed on the field. The park is still called Shuttleworth Park today, but in 2019 the baseball stadium was renamed to Rao Family Stadium for well renowned pediatrician Dr. Govind Rao, MD who has served the Amsterdam community for over 60 years.

Upon arrival in Amsterdam the stadium needed renovations. In 2004, a brick wall backstop was installed behind home plate and the first base line as well as several reserved seats from the former Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. In 2006, the small metal bleachers were moved from under the grandstand and down the first baseline as a new wooden grandstand and concession stand were built. This restored the look of the stadium back to the days of the Rugmakers and vastly increased seating capacity. In 2007, the first party deck was built behind the first baseline and the skybox above the concession stand opened. In 2014, an artificial turf infield was installed and in 2022 the Neena Rao Locker Room, Coaches Office and Front Office were completed.

The Mohawks found instant success on the field upon moving to Amsterdam as they won NYCBL titles in 2003 under Bill Consiglio and again in 2004 under Nicholas Enriquez.

In 2006, the connection was made with then Kentucky pitching coach Gary Henderson who started sending players to the Mohawks for the summer. Since that time, Henderson became the head coach at Kentucky, pitching coach and interim head coach at Mississippi State and is now the head coach at Utah, all the while sending a strong contingent of players from each of those schools each summer to Amsterdam. However, Henderson's most important contribution to the program came in 2009. The Mohawks had a coach lined up for that summer but then it suddenly fell through. This led to a vacancy that quickly needed to be filled. That's when Gary Henderson saw the perfect opportunity. A junior college coach who had recently retired, but was highly regarded in his ability to produce hardnosed baseball players who go on to produce at bigger schools and often turned pro. With a NJCAA II National Championship and many coach of the year honors under his belt, Keith Griffin was introduced to the Mohawks. It was the perfect fit as the Pensacola, Florida native could fulfill his desire to coach over the summers without the full-time, 12-month a year grind that comes with running a college program. 

Under Keith Griffin's leadership the Mohawks have turned into a nationally recognized summer baseball destination. The team has won 10 league titles, 14 division titles and failed to reach the league championship only twice since 2009. In 2022, Perfect Game USA named the Mohawks the Summer Collegiate Team of the Year and Griffin has taken home Coach of the Year honors 5 times.

(Mohawks President Brian Spagnola talks to Keith Griffin before a game)     (Keith Griffin about to receive a Gatorade shower after winning the 2019 PGCBL Championship)

In addition, there have been well over 200 former Mohawks who have signed professional baseball contracts, most notably 4x All-Star and 2x World Series Champion Hunter Pence who played for the Mohawks from Texas-Arlington in 2022. Other Major Leaguers include Luke Maile (Kentucky), Matt Gage (Siena), Trey Wingenter (Auburn), Mark Leiter Jr. (NJIT), Zach Logue (Kentucky), Tim Herrin (Indiana), Justin Foscue (Mississippi State), Joe LaSorsa (St. John's), Andrew Saalfrank (Indiana), 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). 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 due to both on field talent and the game day atmosphere. In 2007, Dave Dittman joined the Mohawks as a minority owner and Vice President. He previously owned the Newport Gulls and helped start the Vermont Mountaineers and Plymouth Pilgrims of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Dittman was instrumental in helping double attendance figures in just his first year and helped create a more fan friendly and business friendly environment for the Mohawks organization. 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.

(2008 Mohawks closer Ricky Breymier dancing the Cha Cha Slide with the fans between innings)     (Matt Snyder exits the game to a standing ovation as the Mohawks were on the cusp of winning the 2013 PGCBL Championship)   

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

Mohawk Baseball Club Total Career Coaching Wins

Mohawks Single Game Records

Most Runs

25 - June 25, 1988 Schenectady Mohawks at Broome Rangers

(in Amsterdam)

22 - July 9, 2017 at Adirondack Trail Blazers, July 2, 2022 vs. Glens Falls Dragons

Most Runs in an Inning

15 - June 25, 2024; 6th inning vs. Boonville Lumberjacks 

Most Hits

29 - July 9, 2017 at Adirondack Trail Blazers

Most Home Runs

8 - June 25, 1988 Schenectady Mohawks at Broome Rangers

(in Amsterdam)

5 - June 18, 2019 vs. Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs

Most Hits by a Player

5 - John Valente (June 22, 2017), (July 3, 2017)

Most Doubles by a Player

3 - Austin Sheffield (June 30, 2009), Jeff Boehm (July 8, 2012), Zak Colby (July 29, 2012), Cam Gurney (June 16, 2023)

Most Home Runs by a Player

3 - Anthony Gonnellla (July 5, 2017), Mason Swinney (June 26, 2023)

Most RBI by a Player

8 - Dylan Smith (July 30, 2013)

Most Strikeouts

19 - June 12, 2008 at Little Falls Diamond Miners, June 16, 2009 vs. Saratoga Phillies, June 22, 2019 at Watertown Rapids

Most Strikeouts by a Player

13 - Brayden Kapteyn (June 16, 2009), Dave Filak (July 12, 2009), Mark Leiter, Jr. (August 1, 2011), Mark Leiter, Jr. (August 6, 2012), Nick Massa (August 7, 2019), Max Ramirez (August 3, 2023)

Most Stolen Bases

9 - July 3, 2008, 2019

No-Hitters

Sean Bouthilette (June 22, 2010)

Taylor Blatch (July 27, 2014)

Cole Cheatham, Von Baker (June 19, 2022)

Zach Eldred, Ben Huckans (July 7, 2023)

Brandon Peterson, Von Baker (July 11, 2023)

Longest Winning Streak

Overall: 16 games - June 16, 2023 - July 5, 2023

Home Winning Streak: 15 games - June 1, 2023 - July 5, 2023

Road Winning Streak: 13 games - June 3, 2022 - June 27, 2022

Longest Hitting Streak

23 Games - Michael Ludowig: June 29, 2018 - July 30, 2018 

Mohawks Individual League Awards  

Player of the Year 2008 - Mark Onorati (Manhattan) 2009 - Brayden Kapteyn (Kentucky) 2013 - John Nogowski (Florida State) 2014 - Josh Gardiner (Radford) 2016 - Joe Genord (South Florida) 2019 - Maxwell Costes (Maryland) 2022 - Gage Miller (Bishop State/Alabama) 2024 - Cade Ladehoff (Michigan)
Pitcher of the Year 2004 - Derrick Gordon (Lamar) 2009 - Brayden Kapteyn (Kentucky) 2010 - Kyle Hunter (Dartmouth) 2012 - Chandler Shepherd (Kentucky) 2015 - Zach Logue (Kentucky) 2021 - Nick Smith (Evansville)
Relief Pitcher of the Year 2022 - Santhosh Gottam (Brown)
Coach of the Year 2009 - Keith Griffin 2012 - Keith Griffin 2022 - Keith Griffin 2023 - Keith Griffin 2024 - Keith Griffin

Mohawk Baseball Past Owner Bob Bellizzi

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

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 Commissioner 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 amateur 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

Team Pitching Stats