(Photo: Giuseppe Papaccio is thrown out attempting to score from third in the top of the first inning on Monday night in Glens Falls. Picture courtesy Jon Sargalis.)
By Bob Rotruck
Box Score
Something about Glens Falls has been tough to handle for the Amsterdam Mohawks this year. The Golden Eagles rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth for a dramatic 7-6 win right after Josh Nethaway (U. Albany) had singled in the top half of the ninth inning to give the Mohawks a 6-5 lead. The long night of baseball in the exciting game featured lots of strategizing from both sides, big opportunities, lead changes and ties throughout, and a generally exciting back-and-forth between two rivals who could be destined to meet yet again in the PGCBL playoffs.
First-place Amsterdam's record is now 26-8. Half of their losses have come to the hands of the Golden Eagles against whom the Mohawks are 1-4. This one stung as badly as any of them though. And it comes just hours after Amsterdam learned that they moved up from #4 to #3 in the latest national rankings in the Perfect Game Summer Top 30 poll.
The Golden Eagles improved to 18-17 with just their third win in their last 10 games as they moved into sole possession of fourth place in the league which carries the last playoff spot in the PGCBL.
Chase Griffin (Georgia Southern) got the game-winning double to left-field off Connor Kaden (Wake Forest) in the bottom of the ninth to drive home Alberto Morales (Clarendon). Amsterdam had a chance to throw out the winner runner at the plate as D.J. Hoagboon (U. Albany) juggled the ball in the left-field corner after slipping on the track but still gunned the ball to cut-off man Chase Green (SIU-Edwardsville). But Green's attempt to throw out the runner at home went awry on the humid and muggy night as the ball slipped out of his hand and sailed off-target.
Griffin also homered for the Golden Eagies in the sixth inning, his fourth of the year.
Nethaway was the offensive standout for the Mohawks as he collected three RBI's on two key hits late in the game. His two-run single in the seventh inning tied the score at 5-5. And his drive to left in the ninth plated Zak Colby (Faulkner) to give Amsterdam the lead and the opportunity to win.
Casey Rodrigue went 3-for-5 with three runs scored including a double and triple for Glens Falls. His double leading off the ninth started their dramatic final rally.
Ross Kivett (Kansas State) had a pair of stolen bases to increase his league-leading total to 33.
Zak Colby reached base five times with two hits and three walks. Ed Charlton (NJIT) went 2-for-4 to increase his league-record hitting streak to 17 games.
Taylor Martin (Kentucky) started for the Mohawks and struck out eight over six hard innings on the steamy night giving up five runs, four earned.
The Mohawks return to Glens Falls for a game on Saturday night, one of three left between Amsterdam against the Golden Eagles in the last 13 games of the season.
Up next for Amsterdam are back-to-back games against Mohawk Valley on Tuesday and Thursday nights, with a day off in-between on Wednesday. Tuesday's game is at home and Thursday's contest is on the road at Little Falls, NY. Tuesday night is Baseball Bingo and also is College Alumni Night presented by Bartyzel, Inc.
Rocky McCord (Auburn) takes the mound Tuesday night for the Mohawks.
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