By Nate Shoemaker

The Importance of Depth in a 46 Game Season

The Amsterdam Mohawks have been at the top of the PGCBL East Division for almost two months and, at one point, won 19 straight games. It looked like Amsterdam could cruise to a ninth PGCBL championship but with the team roster changing, depth is becoming a concern.

The Mohawks lost two of their middle infielders over the weekend, Brandon McCraine and Tyler Correa. McCraine had a slow start to the season but found his rhythm in early July. The shortstop finished the season with a .343 average and 8 RBIs. McCraine arrived at Amsterdam on June 23rd and returned to Auburn this past week.

McCraine in the on-deck circle at his second-to-last home game vs the Saugerties Stallions.

Although Correa does not go to a SEC school like McCraine, the loss feels just as crucial. Correa decided to return home after the demands of both his college and summer seasons left him feeling exhausted. The second baseman played in 26 games and batted .313. His numbers don’t jump off the board, but he made his mark with his speed.

“That one stung because he played with a lot of energy,” said Mohawks president Brian Spagnola.

Correa broke the team’s triple record with six triples and played a strong second base. He also led off for the Mohawks. The loss of these two middle infielders puts more pressure on backups James Haughton and Tyler Figeroua.

Haughton has found success hitting the ball the opposite way, including coming through in a couple of clutch moments. On June 15, the lefty hit a go-ahead three-run home run against the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs, lifting the Mohawks into first place.

Figueroa has been up and down at the plate. The righty gets on base at a steady rate but has had trouble generating power. The second baseman is prepared for the playoffs, with prior experience that helped the Mohawks win the 2024 PGCBL championship. 

Amsterdam is also losing two elite lefties in their starting rotation, Mason McCraine and Mathis McKenna. McKenna is having surgery after tearing a muscle in his arm, while McCraine is returning to Auburn with his brother Brandon. McKenna threw 14 innings on his way to two wins, and McCraine posted a 3.52 ERA.

Over the past two weeks, the pitching staff has brought in reinforcements to bolster the bullpen, adding former Mohawks Parker Aikens and Peyton Falls. Aikens had a flawless debut at Shuttleworth Park, throwing 1.1 innings with three strikeouts. Falls had a shaky first outing, but his playoff experience gives him an intriguing upside.

Falls pitched for the Mohawks during the 2024 PGCBL championship. Amsterdam trailed 7-0 in the game, and Falls kept in striking distance, pitching four straight shutout innings as Amsterdam rallied for a 9-8 victory.

Falls pitching for the Mohawks during the 2024 season.

“What we like about Peyton is his two best games he’s pitched here have been in championships,” said Spagnola.

The coaching staff isn’t worried about the new pieces they picked up. They are more concerned about their depth. Over the past week, several of the Mohawks top players have cooled off due to fatigue. Their bat speed numbers and pitching velocity have dropped significantly.

“They’re kids, they have never done this before,” said Spagnola.

During the college baseball season, the players get two to three days off in between each game. In summer baseball, teams play nearly five times a week. Amsterdam has 12 games in 14 days to conclude their season.

The number of games over a two-month span makes summer baseball feel similar to the grind of an MLB season. The season prepares players for their potential future at the next level.

The coaching staff is continuing to add depth to their roster ahead of the playoffs. Head coach Keith Griffin will look to set up his rotation with built-in rest days so they are prepared for the playoffs. He will also aim to give his starting lineups some time off so his best nine can enter the playoffs at full strength.

“Getting these guys fresh is more important than winning right now,” said Spagnola.

The Mohawks have their eyes on a ninth championship. They will continue to focus on using the last week of the regular season to get their team fully rested, especially with the win-or-go-home nature of the playoffs.