By Nate Shoemaker

Box Score

Mohawk Valley finished the first inning with five runs but Amsterdam mounted a comeback capped off by a three-run home run from James Haughton in the seventh inning. The Mohawks pitching staff issued 10 walks, but the offenses thrived in the Mohawks 9-8 win.

The offenses got on base constantly finishing the night with just five strikeouts each.  Right fielder Jake Haarde made a couple of key plays to keep the Diamond Dawgs in front, but the pitching staff crumbled in the late innings.

The Diamond Dawgs greeted Mohawks pitcher Kyler Ackert with the bases loaded just three batters in. Mohawk Valley grabbed a 2-0 lead with Joe Crenshaw coming to the plate.

Crenshaw hit a laser into the left-center gap, where Mohawks left fielder Andrew Ezell leaped into the wall to make the catch as he crashed into the wall. The sacrifice fly scored two runs as Ezell went down near the wall, but remained in the game.

Amsterdam didn’t flinch after the Diamond Dawgs' five-run burst. Aiden Dill smashed a ball deep into right field, but Haarde robbed him of an extra base hit, forcing the Mohawks to settle for one run. On the next pitch, Anthony DeCesare launched his fourth home run of the season, cutting the deficit to 5-3.

The Mohawks made the score 5-4 on a RBI single bloop from James Haughton. Amsterdam threatened to tie the game, when Robert Melo ropped the ball into the right-field corner, but a picture-perfect relay nailed Taylor Belza at the plate.  The Diamond Dawgs added three insurance runs as Mohawks pitcher Bryson Treichel issued three consecutive batters and bases loaded walks.

Amsterdam chipped away in late innings as Robert Melo hit a sacrifice fly. With two outs, Haughton walked up to the plate looking to deliver the decisive blow. Haughton waited on the pitch and smoked a laser inches over the left field wall. The three-run home run flipped the game in the Mohawks favor giving them a 9-8 advantage.

Amsterdam added an insurance run on a Diamond Dawgs throwing error to extend the lead to 10-8. Derrick Duval came out of the bullpen and pitched in the final two innings earning the save, securing the win for Amsterdam.

The Mohawks will be right back at it on Tuesday June 16, when they host the Oneonta Outlaws. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.