The Blueprint to Constructing the Amsterdam Mohawks 

By Nate Shoemaker

After the Mohawks’ 19-9 win over the Glens Falls Dragons, fans left Rao Family Stadium after eight innings, exchanging fist bumps with on-field entertainer Barry Rouse. Players followed with a slight smiles, but there was a shared feeling in the locker room that the game should've been finished an inning earlier.

Amsterdam has recorded 11 mercy-rule wins this season. They’ve built a powerhouse in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) once again with their sights set on a ninth championship. For Mohawks president Brian Spagnola, creating a summer ball team starts in August.  

In the 2025 season, the Mohawks fell in the East Division final to the Saugerties Stallions 3-2, in 11 innings. As Spagnola drove home that night, he started thinking about what the 2026 season would look like.

Early in his career, he would contact college coaches to try to secure their players for the summer. Now that process has flipped. In the last couple of years, coaches have been the ones leaving emails about their players in his inbox.

The same schools contact the Mohawks every year– southern schools like Auburn, Alabama, and Kentucky. Some closer programs will also send players, such as the University of Rhode Island and Siena. Spagnola and head coach Keith Griffin have brought connections from coaching college baseball, making it easier to create their roster each year.

Spagnola spent 12 years as an assistant coach at Division II powerhouse Saint Rose, while Griffin recently retired after a 40-year career at Coastal North Alabama Community College. During their time at the helm of their respective teams, the two met coaches from all across the country, and they still rely on them to assemble their roster almost every year.

Other teams in the PGCBL, like Mohawk Valley and Saugerties, send emails during the winter and spring, while Amsterdam has positioned themselves as a top destination. Griffin has helped 50 Mohawks reach the major leagues. His coaching style makes Amsterdam one of the top destinations for summer baseball.

“Auburn and Wake Forest coaches could send their guys anywhere. They send their guys to Amsterdam for a reason,” said Spagnola.

Griffin is an old-school coach who has his players follow strict guidelines. He rarely smiles during games and makes sure his players are always focused on the next play. Griffin is a no-nonsense coach, and it’s essential for players to buy into his style.

Griffin does not deal with celebrations or any sort of trash-talking. After the Mohawks 15-0 victory vs the Lumberjacks, Griffin met with the team in the locker room and told them that the double celebrations and dancing after home runs would come to an end, making sure the players stayed level-headed. He understands the pressure that is on these college athletes during the summer and wants them to remain focused.

“I love sending my guys here because winning is important. I want my guys somewhere where winning is important,” said Alabama coach Rob Vaughn during the Mohawks 2023 showcase.

When looking at players for the summer, Griffin and Spagnola are not just looking for players with the best statistics; they are looking for guys who are willing to adapt. Players who are willing to switch positions and bat anywhere in the lineup.

Players like Tyler Correa and Gabriel Rivera who put the team first and fit seamlessly into Griffin’s system. Spagnola and Griffin get a large pool of players eager to come to Amsterdam with the fanbase serving as a major catalyst.

Correa dives into third base after a triple in his first at-bat as a Mohawk.

Spagnola has worked hard over his 20-year career to turn Amsterdam into a top destination for summer baseball. When he first arrived at the park after moving the team from Schenectady to Amsterdam, the stadium only had six rows of bleachers. During the first couple of seasons, there were about 50 fans at each home game.

Spagnola called up David Dittmann to help improve the venue and keep the team in business. Every year, the two added new features to the stadium, like the wooden grandstand and the turf field. Dittleman was instrumental in doubling the attendance in one short season. He previously started successful programs in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, like the Vermont Mountaineers and Newport Gulls.

“The smart people are the people who listen to the people who are smarter than them,” said Spagnola.

The two put an emphasis on attracting fans as they redesigned the stadium. They also started to plan events between innings for some on-field entertainment. A couple of years ago, Spagnola decided to make the stadium smaller, shortening the fences to 280 feet down the left and right field lines so there are more home runs and balls played off the wall.

Rao Family Stadium after the foul poles were moved to 280 feet.

“We are in the entertainment business.” You don’t have to like baseball to come here and have a good time,” said Spagnola.

Players are also some of the best salesmen, bringing their teammates to Amsterdam. Auburn’s Brandon McCraine returned for his second year and brought fellow Tigers Taylor Belza, Saxon Roberts, and his brother, Mason McCraine. None of the players had heard of Amsterdam, N.Y. before they arrived, but it didn't take them long to understand why Brandon was eager to come back for his second year.

The Mohawks have dominated the East Division this season, with 11 mercy-rule wins and a 23-5-1 record. They’ve built a sustainable model that allows Spagnola to reload every year and consistently keep his team at the top of the PGCBL.

More News Articles