By Sam Federman
Box Score Photos
AMSTERDAM, N.Y. - The proverbial bullpen door swung open, and out walked a 5-foot-11 18-year-old in the biggest spot of his life.
“They’re not gonna touch your stuff,” Mohawks’ right fielder Evan Haeger told him as he walked out.
“Go and be you,” was the gospel Zach Hernandez went out of the dugout to profess.
Amsterdam’s own Manny Santos made the trot to the mound with the bases full of Stallions, no outs, and the go-ahead run coming to the plate.
Santos, who is committed to Rhode Island, has been coming to Shuttleworth since elementary school. He holds a special understanding of the situation he was walking into. With ghosts of past Mohawk championship teams whispering in his ears and the season on his shoulders, he authored his chapter in the storied history of the ballclub.
Taking it one pitch at a time, Santos got the crucial first out, striking out Nate Manley on a high fastball and igniting the crowd.
Peyton Bonds was the next hitter, still representing the go-ahead run. He took a first-pitch strike, building Santos’ momentum further.
The next pitch was grounded to second base, giving Aiden Stewart a faint chance of ending the game with a double play. While his throw made it to shortstop Rob Rispoli in time to register one out, no throw to first was attempted. Mike Cuello scored from third, cutting the lead to 8-6.
Former Mohawk Eddie Yamin then represented the go-ahead run with two outs, a script that wouldn’t be believable in Hollywood. Clad in his new, purple, LSU Tiger arm sleeve, donning a gray Saugerties jersey, a 2023 champion had the chance to play the villain in Santos’ story.
A comeback that had once seemed so improbable was now leading to a nail-biting finish fit for a game of its magnitude.
The two rivals traded early blows, with Javar Williams scoring the game’s first run in the bottom of the first, only to be countered by RBI singles from Ryan Recio and Josh Blackmore in the top of the second.
In the bottom of the second, Rispoli waved his magic wand, as he miraculously escaped a tag between first and second, staying dry after reaching on an error. His exploits, coming after laying down a bunt, allowed runners Jimmy Dionne and Drake Digiorno the time necessary tom come around and score, giving Amsterdam the lead right back.
Sebastian Harden added to the lead with a single, and a squeeze bunt from Wiliams capped off the four-run inning with Liam Willson scurrying home.
The scoreboard read 5-2 from that point until Mario Trivella’s RBI double in the fifth, but the Mohawks got two runs right back on a sacrifice fly and wild pitch in the bottom half.
Willson extended the lead to 8-3 in the sixth with an RBI single ripped over the head of third baseman Brandon Fish in the bottom of the sixth.
Amsterdam’s edge was cut to 8-4 as it cycled through a plethora of arms, with Parker Aikens failing to get the final out of the eighth in replacement of Jesse Kuzmich, and James Redick walking the first batter he faced in the ninth after getting out of the eighth.
Brian Yetter loaded up the bases in the ninth and then walked Fish to score the 5th run with no outs, triggering Santos’ dramatic entrance.
Two outs and one run later, Yamin had Santos in a 3-1 count. His low seasonal stats masked the fact that he’d come through with big hits all year long and had another one at his old home when his new team needed it most. He ripped a single past the third baseman, scoring Trivella from third, and bringing up reigning MVP Andrew Amato.
The pressure stayed on Santos, with the whispers growing louder and louder, as Amato fouled off pitch after pitch to stay alive and extend the final moments of the Stallions’ season.
With the count at 1-2, Santos delivered the decisive pitch, which was grounded right at Rispoli, who flipped to Stewart, forcing Yamin out, and commencing the celebration.
Santos pumped his fist and let out a scream as the team came to mob him near the pitcher’s mound. He’s thrilled, but not satisfied quite yet, as the Mohawks face the Elmira Pioneers with a chance to win their third straight PGCBL crown. Game 1 is Thursday in Elmira, with games 2 and 3 being played as a doubleheader on Friday at Shuttleworth.
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