Mike Reitcheck (Penn) fires a strike for the Dutchmen.
SAUGERTIES, NY—The Albany Dutchmen (10-13) took both games of a PGCBL double header against the Saugerties Stallions (9-15), 2-1 and 8-2 at Cantine Field in Saugerties.
In game 1, Mike Reitcheck (Penn) went the distance for the Dutchmen, striking out nine Stallions in the Dutchmen victory, halting their seven game losing skid.
Albany got on the board first off of Stallions starter Phil Zdanowski (College of Saint Rose). Leading off the top of the 2nd inning, Sean Aspinall (Azusa Pacific) launched a 3-2 fastball beyond the left field fence for a solo homerun. It is the third round-tripper for the Dutchmen this season, and the first for Aspinall on the campaign.
Reitcheck established his fastball early against the Stallions, keeping their hitters off balance. He cruised through the first three innings, relinquishing just one hit and facing a lone Stallion north of the minimum.
Facing his first jam of the game with runners on first and second and one out in the 4th, Dutchmen catcher Tyler Nelin (George Mason) blocked a pitch in the dirt and fired to third to nab the advancing Chris Reynolds (Manhattan College) for the crucial second out. Reitcheck then induced a weak groundball to short to snuff out the threat.
Leading off the 5th inning, Adam Gauthier (Dartmouth) roped a double to right-center. He then scored on an infield single by Jack Weiller (Virginia), providing a lone insurance run.
That run became even more significant after the Stallions broke through for a run in the 6th. Reynolds singled to cut the deficit in half.
But the combination of Reitcheck and Nelin made sure the lead would hold in the 7th. After a leadoff single by John Giakis (Farleigh Dickinson), and a sacrifice bunt that moved pinch runner Darian Blanks (Niagara) to third, Reitcheck fanned one pinch hitter and induced a lazy fly ball from the subsequent pinch hitter to right field to end it.
After a nail-biter in game 1, the Dutchmen took all of the suspense out of the contest in their first at bat of game 2. Albany scored four first inning runs on two hits against Stallions starter Jared Toby (Wayne State). The Dutchmen were aided by four Saugerties defensive miscues in the field during the frame.
That was more than enough for Dutchmen starter, Jon Reid (Azusa Pacific). Reid threw five shutout innings on just 47 pitches, walking two and striking out one. He relinquished just two hits against the free-swinging Stallions.
Aspinall continued to swing a hot bat in the second game. After homering in game 1, the centerfielder collected three more hits, driving in a run and scoring twice himself
Albany pushed across three more runs in the 4th, thanks to an Aspinall RBI double and a two-run single by Hunter Boose (Georgia Regents).
The Stallions broke through with two runs in the bottom of the 7th, but after the game had long since been decided.
The Dutchmen return home to Bellizzi Field Sunday after a day off. It is Northeast Commercial Printing Giveaway Night, where the first 250 fans will receive free Dutchmen team posters. The team will have an autograph session immediately following the contest with the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs. Coinciding with the 5:05PM start and throughout the night, Stewart’s Shops will be offering $2 ice cream cones. It is also Family Funday at the ballpark.
