The Albany Dutchmen ended the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League season with a 5-3 victory over regular season champion Amsterdam Wednesday at Bob Bellizzi Field.
Jack Wietlispach’s two-run single capped a three-run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning to propel the Dutchmen (22-24) to victory. Greg Pezzuto’s RBI single earlier in the frame tied the score at 3.
Albany scored the game’s first two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Greg Pezzuto scored from third on a wild pitch, and Wietlispach’s sacrifice fly drove in Andrew Pezzuto to give the Dutchmen the lead.
Albany starting pitcher Matt Snyder cruised through the first five innings before running into trouble in the sixth. Matt McDowell led off the inning with a single, and Ed Charlton followed with a two-run homer to center field to tie the game at 2.
Amsterdam (35-12) grabbed the lead in the top of the seventh inning. Brian Ruby reached on an error and advanced to third on another error after he stole second. Ruby then scored on Chase Williamson’s ground out to give the Mohawks a 3-2 advantage.
Snyder stayed on the pitcher’s mound through the eighth inning for Albany and picked up the win when the Dutchmen rallied. The Colonie Central High School graduate scattered seven hits and struck out four batters to pick up his third win in six decisions. Ricky Schafer struck out the side in the top of the ninth to record his fourth save of the year.
Amsterdam starting pitcher Dan Zlotnick settled down after allowing Albany’s two first-inning runs. Zlotnick tossed seven innings and allowed two runs on seven hits, walked five and struck out five. Reliever Kyle Rufer took the loss after giving up three runs on four hits in the eighth inning.
The Dutchmen finished the season in sixth place out of nine teams in the PGCBL. Latham native and LaSalle Institute graduate Zach Remillard led the team in hitting with a .369 batting average, 12 doubles, four home runs and 31 RBI. David Stagg was Albany’s top starting pitcher with a 5-3 record, a 3.08 earned run average and 61 strikeouts, while Latham native Trevor Lacosse had a strong season as the Dutchmen’s closer with a 3-2 record, eight saves and a 1.14 ERA. Lacosse didn’t allow an earned run until Sunday’s 4-3 extra-inning loss to Glens Falls.
