The Dutchmen used a 9th inning comeback to walkoff and defeat the Saugerties Stallions.
The Albany Dutchmen (28-20) would put up three runs in the bottom of the ninth to take the victory over the Saugerties Stallions (14-34) in front of a raucous Bob Bellizzi Field crowd that lasted through the everlasting drizzle Saturday night.
The Dutchmen would go into the bottom of the ninth down 7-5 before tying the game off a two RBI single from Jack Gethings (Fairfield University) before Jon Skidmore (Dallas Baptist University) would give the Dutchmen the walkoff victory.
Albany would begin the scoring in the bottom of the third, putting up a pair of runs to give them a 2-0 lead. JJ Shimko (University of South Carolina Upstate) and Gethings would hit back-to-back one-out singles, and after Gethings moved up to second on a error, Justin Childers (Ohio Dominican University) would walk to load the bases. Kyle Skeels (Coastal Carolina University) would follow with a walk of his own, and John Novenche (Canisius College) would hit a sacrifice fly to provide the runs.
Saugerties would respond in the top of the half, as Tyler Noe (University of Massachusetts Lowell) would hit a RBI single, and with runners on the corners and one out Vince Lakes Jr. (Franklin Pierce University) would be caught in a rundown, allowing Noe to score and tie the game.
The hosts would follow with a two-run inning of their own, as a pair of unearned runs gave them a 4-2 lead. Cole Malloy (Butler University) would get hit by a pitch with one out and after moving up on back-to-back Mychael Goudreau (Azusa Pacific University) and Shimko singles, would score on a error on a bad throw on the Shimko infield single. Malloy would move up to third on the error, and a balk from Nick Burns (Johns Hopkins University) would allow him to score.
Albany would score for the third consecutive inning in the bottom of the fifth. After Childers led off with a single, he would score on a stand-up triple from Skeels to deep right-center field to make the Dutchmen lead 5-2.
Saugerties would respond, putting up five unanswered runs through the top of the ninth. Three singles and a double would tie the game in the top of the sixth, and runs in the top of the eighth and ninth would give the visitors a 7-5 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Albany would get to work quickly in the bottom half of the inning, quickly loading the bases with no outs. Gethings would line a two-run single into left-center to tie the game, and after a perfect sacrifice bunt from Childers and a walk from Skeels would reload the bases, Skidmore, who entered the game in the top of the ninth as a defensive replacement, would lace the game-winning single over the first baseman’s head and down the right field line to give the Dutchmen the walkoff victory.
Skidmore would get Player of the Game recognition for his single, and Shimko would get Honorable Mention after he went 4-for-5 with a pair of runs.
Gethings finished 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI’s. Skeels would end his night 1-for-3 with two walks and two RBI’s, and Goudreau would go 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs.
With the win and the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs taking a loss Saturday night, the Dutchmen move into second place by half a game in the East Division, with the possibility of hosting the one-game playoff in the semifinal round Monday against the DiamondDawgs.
Before the game, the Dutchmen honored their 2016 Host Families for all they do throughout the season and named the 2016 Dutchmen co-Players of the Year in Childers and Shimko, and awarded Evan Giles (Indiana State University) the 2016 Albany Dutchmen Player of the Year Award. The Dutchmen also hosted Fan Appreciation Night, as a raffle was held in thanks to all fans for their support throughout the season.
Saugerties wraps up their season tomorrow night, when they host the Oneonta Outlaws at 7:05.
Albany will visit the first-place Amsterdam Mohawks at 6:35, looking to clinch the second seed in the PGCBL East Division playoffs. Stay up-to-date with the upcoming playoff schedule on dutchmenbaseball.com.
