June 16th, 2023
(Amsterdam)-- After what was metaphorically the biggest win of the still young 2023 season for the Albany Dutchmen in Saugerties Thursday night, the Dutchmen traveled west instead of south on Friday and fell to the Amsterdam Mohawks by a score of 6-1, a score not as indicative as the game between the two teams.
Vince Venditti (St. Rose) would lead off the ballgame with a walk and steal second four pitches later, extending his PGCBL lead to 4 with stolen bag #13. Korson Hastings (Trinity) would walk two batters later, but they would end up being the Dutchmen’s first two runners left on.
Amsterdam would be sure not to do the same in the bottom of the first, as back-to-back doubles and a home run with their first three batters would give them a 3-0 lead. Dutchmen starter Greg Shaw III (Manhattan) would settle down from there, retiring eight of the next nine he faced, and got some help from his battery mate Will Plattner (Ole Miss/Transfer Portal) to catch the lone Mohawk he couldn’t retire, stealing in the second.
Albany would have a great opportunity in the third to at least draw the game even, as a single from Austin Francis (NJIT) sandwiched between walks from Josh Foglia (HVCC/Uncommitted) and Venditti would load the bases with no one out, however a strikeout and double play would get the Mohawks out of the inning unscathed.
Hastings would lead off the fourth with a double and Tyler Kipp (Fairfield) would single two batters later, but another double play ball would help the Mohawks escape. The hosts would tack on one run apiece in the fourth and fifth innings to extend the lead to 5.
The Dutchmen would get on the board in the top of the seventh, as Plattner would single to score Tyler Cannoe (Salve Regina) after his leadoff double. The Plattner-Cannoe connection would also strike in the home half of the seventh, as Plattner would fire down to Cannoe, who made a stellar behind-the-back tag at first, to backpick Carlos Martinez (Pittsburgh) to end the inning.
Amsterdam would add a run in the bottom of the eighth to provide the final score.
The two squads will meet again on Wednesday at Dutchmen Field for the first time this season. If weather permits, Albany will return to action on Saturday to, finally, face the Utica Blue Sox, after the first two meetings between the two were rained out. First pitch of the doubleheader from Dutchmen Field is scheduled for 5:00.
