By Nate Shoemaker

Box Score

Rivera’s Walk-off Home Run leads to Amsterdam's Exhibition win in Seven Innings over All-Stars Academy

In the Mohawks' debut at Shuttleworth Park, their offense was stagnant for the first six innings until Gabriel Rivera hit a three home run, resulting in a 6-4 win over All Stars Academy. Amsterdam managed only two hits before the seventh inning.

Amsterdam threw seven different pitchers and made a couple of lineup changes in an effort to get their feet wet during the exhibition game. The All-Stars did their damage in the middle innings, scoring four runs between the third and fifth innings.

The All-Stars threatened right away, getting runners on second and third with nobody out. Mohawks pitcher Brandon Shea found his footing, retiring the next three batters to salvage the top half of the first inning.

Academy’s Branden White mowed down the Mohawks' lineup through his two innings of work, striking out five and surrendering no hits. After getting runners in scoring position for the third straight inning, All Stars converted as Michael Santilli came home on a wild pitch to grab a 1-0 advantage.

The two teams traded runs in the fourth as Braylen Bolt drove in a run with a two-out single for All Stars and Robert Melo answered with an RBI for Amsterdam.

All Stars snagged two runs in the fifth after an RBI double by Ryan Huban. The Mohawks also had two errors in the inning, leading to an All Stars 4-1 advantage.

In the fifth, the Mohawks responded as Aiden Dill mashed a two-run home run to cut the lead down to 4-3. Amsterdam threatened in the sixth, but on the tenth pitch, All- Stars Stephen Yakubec struck out James Haughton.

With two outs, Rivera came to the plate with runners on first and second. On the second pitch of the at-bat he hit a laser to left field that left Shuttleworth park and the Mohawk crowd erupted. The home run gave Amsterdam a 6-3 victory.

Amsterdam will stay at home for their first East Division game on Saturday, May 30, against the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.

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