Mohawks win both games of double header against the Albany Dutch to open ICBL
AMSTERDAM, NY » Baseball returned to the Capital Region on Monday at Shuttleworth Park, when the Albany Dutch faced off against the Amsterdam Mohawks, for a double-header. The Mohawks won both games, by scores of 7-4 and 7-3.
“I was just trying to shake off the rust. That was the big thing for me. Seeing that live pitching again is really important,” said Nick Kondo (Saratoga Springs), who didn’t seem to have too much rust to shake off, as he totaled four hits on the night for the Mohawks.
“It would have been really tough having to go a full nine months before going back to school. For me, I want to get back in that groove of playing everyday, throwing and hitting everyday. Shaking off the rust was the big thing for me today though.”
While the scores are relatively similar, the two seven innings games could not have been any more different.
GAME 1
Pitchers from both teams worked through the rust, as well as uncomfortable footing on the mound. With over 20 walks combined between the two teams, there were plenty of scoring opportunities. The Mohawks were able to take advantage of them.
Kondo seemed like he hasn’t missed a beat from UAlbany’s last game, as he went 2-3, with a single and a game-tying two-run
double.
Jake Reinisch (Shenendehowa) would help the Mohawks take the lead, scoring on a base hit, after a lead-off double in the fourth inning. Reinisch would add on in the fifth with a sacrifice fly.
The Dutch would come back with two more runs in the sixth on a sacrifice fly and a passed ball. Devin Dissonel (Shenendehowa) scored on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the inning, making the score 7-4. The Mohawks held on for the victory.
Mohawks Head Coach Greg Christodulu spoke about the pitching struggles throughout the first game.
“I don’t think that’s an indication of anything other than it being the first day out since last year. It’s good to be back out here and it’s good to hear the sounds of baseball,” he said.
He continued, speaking about an issue the pitchers were having with their landing spot on the mound.
“It was a concern because you don’t want anyone getting injured. It looked like it was fixed. It didn’t seem to be a problem later on after the first game.”
It was then that Nick Kondo continued his big night, with a solo homer. The shot over the left field fence capped off his four hit night, with two singles, double, home run and 3 RBIs, while igniting a rally for the Mohawks.
In an inning that included five walks and a hit-by-pitch, Danny Moshier (Saratoga Springs) hit the longest single of his life, off the top of the right field wall to load the bases. Brian Hart (Saratoga Springs) capped off the inning with a 2-run single, giving the Mohawks a 7-3 lead.
“The kids kept grinding and struggling through five innings offensively and then finally came alive in the sixth,” Christodulu said.
“We had the whole night lined up, pitching wise. Each guy was going to go to their pitch limit or innings limit, whatever Coach McFerran had set up. We didn’t do anything different. I actually just said to the coaching staff, that our pitching went according to plan, which very seldom happens in baseball.”