In an abbreviated week for the Albany Dutchmen, University of Pennsylvania left-handed pitcher Mike Reitcheck excelled twice on the mound, earning him the honors of Spotlight Player of the Week. Reitcheck joins Ole Miss’ Mike Fitzsimmons as Dutchmen honorees this season, and is the first pitcher to earn the award.
Reitcheck came to Albany after a decorated collegiate season at Penn, where he earned First Team All-Ivy League honors. In seven starts, Reitcheck recorded a 1.72 ERA with a 5-3 record. He also earned Philadelphia Big Five Pitcher of the Year honors during his sophomore campaign.
In his first outing, the Crystal Lake, Illinois native continued his pitching success in one of the league’s most hostile road environments. Reitcheck worked a scoreless eighth inning at Shuttleworth Park in Amsterdam, striking out two Mohawks before the Dutchmen fell 6-5 in the ninth inning.
Three days later, Reitcheck made his first Albany start, and earned the win as the Dutchmen topped the Saugerties Stallions, 9-2. The lefty used a dominant fastball to strike out four Saugerties hitters, allowing just one run on six hits over his five innings on the mound.
Over his six innings, he has recorded a 1.50 ERA with six strikeouts. His ERA is currently the second best on the Dutchmen roster among pitchers with at least six innings of work.
Reitcheck is one of three Albany left-handers — Chris Amorosi (Siena) and Jon Reid (Azusa Pacific) are the others — to be effective in starting roles throughout the first two weeks of the season, with the three pitchers combining to make five starts.
The Penn sophomore said he was excited to continue pitching in Albany, and added he was pleased with his first start.
“It felt good to get back on the mound this summer,” Reitcheck said. “It was nice to get that first victory in the first start out here.”
Reitcheck is currently scheduled to make his second start for the Dutchmen on Friday at Bob Bellizzi Field against the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs, and is expected to be a mainstay in the Dutchmen pitching rotation for the remainder of the season.
