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Mohawks Rally Beats the Rain...and the Pios

By Bob Rotruck

Box Score     ScoreCast     Audio

 

The Amsterdam Mohawks were in a race against Mother Nature on Thursday
night
at Shuttleworth Park. Just as the rains were getting harder and

harder and bringing the field to "unplayable" status, the Amsterdam
Mohawks
were somehow able to rally from behind for an improbable 9-6

victory in a rain-shortened six-inning game against the Elmira
Pioneers
.


Amsterdam trailed 6-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth and all
involved were well aware that this could certainly be the last chance
for the Mohawks. In fact, that's exactly what it turned out to be. And
the Tribe made the most of it and somehow pulled out their sixth win
in a row.

It was hardly the best game of the year for the Mohawks who struggled
in the field committing a season-high seven errors practically handing
the Pioneers leads of 3-0 and 6-3. But Amsterdam was able to overcome
the adversity as the rain was growing stronger and stronger.

The storm that hit Shuttleworth Park resulting in the shortened game
surprised no one.
In fact, the teams went through the preliminaries a little bit earlier
than usual in an attempt to get the game started on the mindset that
every minute ahead of the impending storm could make the different.
The 7:05 scheduled game actually began at 7:01. And indeed, those
extra minutes very well may have been the difference-maker in this
strange game.

Jordan Ebert (Auburn) and Josh Gardiner (Radford) socked back-to-back
home-runs for Amsterdam in the second inning. For each player, it was
their third homer of the season. It was also the fourth time this year
Amsterdam has gone back-to-back and the third time in just the last
two games.

 

Jordan Ebert and Josh Gardiner round the bases after their back-to-back home runs.

John Sansone went 3-for-4 with a double. He knocked out two singles in
the sixth inning alone scoring the first run of the rally and then
driving in the last two of the night.

Elmira struck early and took a 3-0 lead with two runs in the first
inning and another in the second. with Brian Bashara (Old Dominion)
and Ryan Plantier (Cornell) singling and walking and then eventually
coming around in the opening frame. A pair of errors in the third
allowed Frankie Navarette (Samford) to make it 3-0.

Amsterdam teed-off back-to-back on Elmira starter Tanner Hawley
(Wofford) in the third to cut the lead to 3-2.

Matt Ternowchek was the hard-luck starter for Amsterdam who received
precious little help from his defense. He went four innings
surrendering just two hits and allowing four runs only two of which
were earned while walking three and striking out four.

 

Matt Ternowchek delivers a pitch for Amsterdam.

More errors by Amsterdam led to more runs for Elmira who made it 4-3
in the third and then 6-3 in the top of the sixth as the rains got
going.

But the Mohawks had one last chance for a rally before the game would
be called. And they sent 11 men to the plate in their six-run frame
that began with three straight singles by John Sansone (Florida
State), John Nogowski (Florida State) and Jordan Ebert (Auburn).

Josh Gardiner's (Radford) sac-fly made the score 6-5. And Dylan Smith
(Auburn) lined the game-tying hit barely fair into the left-field
corner for an RBI double playing Ebert.

Somehow play continued. And with a couple more Mohawks reaching to
load the bases,  Ed Charlton would get hit by a pitch to force in a
run and then John Sansone would single in his second trip of the
inning to bring in two more and make it 9-6.

By that point, the rain was in downpour status. The tarp was brought
out to cover the field but by the time the diamond was covered it had
already taken too much. After a conference with the coaches and both
umpires, the announcement was made that the game was called and that
Amsterdam emerged with the surprising and improbably victory.

Amsterdam improved to 11-9 with their sixth straight win while Elmira
fell to 7-10 suffering their second consecutive loss.

Amsterdam is home on Friday night against Glens Falls at 7:05 on
Heroes Night and NBT Bank Night. There is free admission to the game
for all police, fire, military and EMT personnel and also free
admission for anyone with a bank-card from NBT. Logan Fullmer (Maine)
will start for the Mohawks against the Golden Eagles.

The Elmira Pioneers travel to Little Falls Friday night taking on the
Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs. The Pio's return to Dunn Field Saturday
night hosting the Cooperstown Hawkeyes at 7:05.


EP 211 002 - 6 5 2 (6)
AM 020 016 - 9 8 7 (4)

W - Kevin Guthrie (2-1)
L - Tanner Hawley (1-2)

HR
AM - Jordan Ebert (3), Josh Gardiner (3)

Doubles
AM - Dylan Smith

Time - 2:13

Records
Elmira Pioneers 7-10
Amsterdam Mohawks: 11-9

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