Since its inaugural season in 1978, the Amsterdam Mohawks have been a staple franchise for summer baseball in the Capital Region, boasting an all-time win percentage of well over .600, 12 league championships and a number of alumni that have appeared in the Major Leagues.
AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Since its inaugural season in 1978, the Amsterdam Mohawks have been a staple franchise for summer baseball in the Capital Region, boasting an all-time win percentage of well over .600, 12 league championships and a number of alumni that have appeared in the Major Leagues.
The Mohawks celebrated another milestone Wednesday afternoon: the organization's 1000th all-time victory.
"To do what we've done in about a 46-game season - I know I've been here 15 of those - it's just incredible," said head coach Keith Griffin. "I mean, the quality of baseball that we've played year after year has been mind-boggling, and [I'm] just happy to be a part of it."
Amsterdam reached 1k with a 3-2 win over the Albany Baseball Club in game one of a doubleheader out at Shuttleworth Park.
A pair of 518 products fittingly locked down the victory. Burnt Hills native Mason Veronezi earned the win on the mound, tossing two innings of scoreless work in relief of starting pitcher Justus Agosto, while Columbia grad and East Greenbush native Zach Eldred recorded the save.
"[Growing] up in Burnt Hills, I came to [Mohawks] games my whole life - watching Coach Griffin, all the guys that have played here win and represent the community well," said Veronezi. "It's a super cool accomplishment. It's a tribute to what they do here; the guys they bring in. Coach Griffin does a great job every year. And, you know, my father played for the Mohawks, so it's a long legacy of of winning here."
Another local talent, CBA's Matt Sgambati, put together a solid outing on the bump. He drew the start for Albany, and tossed two scoreless innings before his offense gave him a lead in the bottom half of the second frame. A Donovan Rhoden RBI double down the third-base line plated Brody Kenneston for the game's first run.
Amsterdam would finally get to Sgambati for a run in the third inning - a Javar Williams RBI single tied the score at 1-1.
The Mohawks would take the lead two innings later when Steven Spalitta singled just out of the reach of Albany second baseman Matt Thorsen and into right field, bringing in Drake Digiorno to make it a 2-1 affair.
Thorsen answered back, though, in the home half with a solo home run to right field, knotting the score up again at 2-2.
Thorsen, a Chatham High School grad, would have an opportunity to put his team in the driver's seat in the bottom of the sixth, batting with the bases loaded and two out. But Veronezi buckled down and struck out Thorsen to get out of the inning unscathed.
Amsterdam loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, and with one gone in the inning, pinch-hitter Austin Fawley skied a fly ball out to right field. Albany's Matt Cruz made the put-out on the foul line. Pete Daniel, who started the inning with a leadoff double, tagged up from third on the fly ball. Daniel just beat a strong throw home from Cruz to score the go-ahead run.
Eldred retired Albany in-order in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory.
Amsterdam went on to take game two of the doubleheader, 11-3, improving to a staggering 24-5 on the season, while Albany falls to 7-18-1.
The Mohawks return to action Thursday in Glens Falls to take on the Dragons at 7:00 p.m. Albany will look to get back into the win column Thursday with a home tilt against the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs.
