By Bob Rotruck
Box Score
On Opening Night in Amsterdam, the Mohawks pushed their way past the visiting Albany Dutchmen with a 6-1 victory. Amsterdam's record is 1-0 while Albany falls to 1-1.
Matt Pirro (Wake Forest) pitched five strong innings of five hit ball allowing one run for the win. He walked two and struck out four. Reliever Kevin Archbold (University of Albany) went the rest of the way and acquired an unusual four-inning save surrendering just one hit and two walks to close out the game.
Amsterdam leadoff hitter Ed Charlton (New Jersey Tech) was one of the offensive leaders for the Mohawks reaching base four times on two singles and two walks and scoring two runs while also stealing a base and driving in another. Chase Green (Southern Illinois - Edwardsville) had a 2-for-4 game with two runs scored including a big blast to deep center in the seventh inning that went for a stand-up triple.
Albany's Remillard brothers stood out offensively for the Dutchmen. Zach Remillard (Coastal Carolina) was just one day removed from being drafted in the 38th round by the Houston Astros. He cranked a home-run over the left-field Chain Monster in the first inning to stake the visitors to a 1-0 lead. Older brother Will Remillard (Coastal Carolina) had a long double to center-field and also a long flyout to the fence in left-center in going 1-for-3.
The Dutchmen threatened to build on their 1-0 lead in the second inning when they had the bases loaded with no outs. But Matt Pirro was able to work out of it and get three outs on just the next two pitches. Jared Martin Cumberlands, KY) popped out in foul ground and Jack Wietlispach (Parkland) bounced into a nicely turned 6-4-3 double-play started by Mohawks shortstop Giuseppe Papaccio (Seton Hall).
Amsterdam tied the score at 1-1 with a run in the third inning off Albany starter Cody Tollison (Middle Tennessee St.) with Brian Doran (Maine) stealing second after being it by a pitch and then scoring on a Charlton single to right.
The Mohawks took their first lead of the season in the fifth off Dutchmen reliever Cody White (Southern Idaho) with four consecutive batters reaching base on three singles and a hit batter. Josh Nethaway (UAlbany) and Zac Colby (Faulkner, AL) had back-to-back RBI singles that drove in Charlton and Green to make it 3-1.
Amsterdam completed the scoring in the seventh taking advantage of three Albany errors, two walks, and a passed ball. Papaccio and Green teamed up for a double-steal in the inning with with Green breaking for home immediately on the throw to second by Albany catcher Will Remillard.
Amsterdam had 6 runs on 6 hits and 0 errors while Albany's line was 1 run on 6 hits and 4 errors. The Amsterdam Mohawks return to action Friday at 7:00 at rival Glens Falls to take on the Golden Eagles. Their next home game is Saturday night against the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs on the first of four fireworks nights presented by McDonald's.
Amsterdam will play at Cooperstown on Sunday at 4:00. They will finish the suspended game from Wednesday which was 2-2 after 11 innings and then will play the regularly scheduled 5:00 game after that.
The Albany Dutchmen are off Friday and then return to Bellizzi Field in Albany on Saturday night at 7:00 to host the Glens Falls Golden Eagles.
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