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Mohawks Take Game 1 In Walkoff

By Brendan Reilly

Box Score

The Amsterdam Mohawks defeated the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs in walk-off fashion by a score of 8-7. Alex DeBellis (Lynn) had the game-winning hit to score John Razzino (Franklin Pierce) in the bottom of the ninth inning.

John Razzino played an important role in the win. Razzino went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBI, and two HUGE stolen bases in the bottom of the ninth inning. Razzino also gunned down a runner at the plate to save a run, which was precious in what turned out to be a one-run game. E.J. Ashworth (Fairfield) had a good outing as the starting pitcher for the Mohawks. Ashworth allowed three runs on four hits through seven innnigs, and struck out four batters.

Eric Strano went 1-for-4 with three RBI in the loss for the Diamond Dawgs. His only hit was a crucial game tying hit in the top of the eighth inning that got Mohawk Valley within striking distance of a comeback win.

The Mohawks drew first blood in the bottom of the first inning on a John Razzino sacrifice fly.

The Mohawks added five more runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 6-0 lead. After Jonathan Pryor (Wake Forest) led off with a single, John Razzino doubled to bring Pryor in. Tommy Kain (Lynn) singled up the middle to score Razzino. After Brendan Tracy (Fairfield) walked, Joe Purritano (Dartmouth) doubled to score Kain and Tracy. Joey Aiola (Marist) followed Purritano with a double of his own, and Purritano scored to make it 6-0. 

The Diamond Dawgs got on the board in the top of the fourth inning. After a Zach Collett (New Haven) lead off single, the Diamond Dawgs played some small ball to move him over the third. Trey Stover (Hartford) lined a single into centerfield to score Collett to make it 6-1.

The Diamond Dawgs scored two more in the top of the fifth inning, thanks to some sloppy baseball by the Mohawks. Greg Fazio (Rider) led off the inning and made it to second on a throwing error by Ashworth. Ashworth hit Joe Carcone (St. Rose) with the next pitch to put runners on first and second. Colin Hawk (Cincinatti) grounded one to Ashworth who tried to throw to third to get the runner via forceout, but threw the ball away. Fazio came around to score on the play, but Carcone was thrown out at home by John Razzino. Colin Hawk made it all the way to third, and scored on a Gus Craig (Colombia) sacrifice fly. 

The Mohawks added one more run in the bottom of the fifth. After Tommy Kain and Brendan Tracy singled, Joe Purritano doubled to score Kain to make it 7-3.

The Diamond Dawgs were able to score four runs to tie the game in the top of the eighth off of Daniel Castro (Albany) and Zach Breen (Barton). Gus Craig started the rally with a single, and Zach Collet followed with a double. With runners on second and third, Castro struck out Mike Triller (Clemson), and then was taken out in favor of Breen. Jayson Sullivan (Sacred Heart) brought in Craig with a sacrifice fly. After a Will Trahan (LSU-Eunice) infield single, Eric Strano (Rider) lined a ball deep to right-centerfield. Trahan and Collet came into score, and Strano headed for third. Josh Gardiner (Radford) tried to throw Strano out at third, but threw the ball out of play, which allowed Strano to score to tie the game.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, things got tense. Lucas Godlewski (Herkimer C.C.) walked John Razzino to start the inning. Godlewski was replaced by Matt Pidich (Pittsburgh). After the substitution, Razzino stole second and third base on consecutive pitches with Tommy Kain at the plate. The Diamond Dawgs intentionally walked Kain to get to Alex DeBellis. With a 2-2 count, DeBellis chopped one to shortstop. Colin Hawk fielded and fired home, but John Razzino slid into home safely to score the winning run.

John McCarren (Wake Forest) earned the win for the Mohawks after pitching a scoreless top of the ninth inning. Since Godlewski put the winning run on base, he earned the loss.

 

The Patriot Federal Bank Cup will resume Saturday at Veteran’s Memorial Field in Little Falls.

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