By Jon Sargalis

Box Score     Photos     Photos Jules

The quest for a third straight championship began at Shuttleworth Park on Tuesday as the Mohawks opened their playoff run with a 16-1 win over the Watertown Rapids.

Cade Ladehoff got the party started and set the tone early with a 2-run home run. That was followed by a pair of walks and Jimmy Dionne hit an RBI single to give the Mohawks a 3-0 lead.

The second inning was more of the same as 2 runs scored on a Jackson Natilli single and then Natili scored on an error as Amsterdam doubled their lead to 6-0.

Amsterdam would go 3-for-3 as they scored 3 runs in each of the first 3 innings. Tyler Figueroa drove in 2 with a single and Javar Williams drove in Figueroa as the Mohawks lead reached 9-0.

The 3-run streak was broken in the fourth, but the Mohawks still got a run across as Cade Ladehoff reached on a walk and scored on a Jimmy Dionne single making it 10-0.

Watertown’s batters were stymied by Logan Forsythe the whole game as he recorded 10 strikeouts over 5 shutout innings, allowing 4 hits and 2 walks. Ben Huckans took over in the sixth and the Rapids were finally able to get in the run collum as Nick Bergamotto doubled and scored on a Jake Blozy fielder’s choice to make it 10-1.

After 2 quiet innings, Amsterdam got back to work in the seventh. Drake Digiorno singled and scored on a Liam Willson single and Jake Sparks singled, scoring on a Javar Williams fielder’s choice to make it 12-1.

The Mohawks would add more insurance runs in the eighth as bases loaded walks to Jake Sparks and Rob Rispoli forced in Evan Haeger and Cade Ladehoff. Liam Willson drove in Drake Digiorno and Jake Sparks with a single and the Mohawks took a 16-1 lead into the ninth.

Ben Huckans closed the door in the ninth and got the save as he went the final 4 innings, striking out 6 as he and Forsythe combined to strike out 16 and provide the team with a well-rested bullpen for the rest of playoffs.  

Drake Digiorno and Jimmy Dionne each went 3-for-3 and Liam Willson drove in 3 runs as the Mohawks recorded 18 hits.

Tonight’s win means the Mohawks will advance to the East Division Final to be hosted at Shuttleworth Park tomorrow night at 6:35. Their opponent will be the Saugerties Stallions as they rallied to score 3 runs tonight in the eighth inning and eliminated the Mohawk Valley DimondDawgs by a score of 5-4.

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