Authors Note: This article was originally written on May31st/June1st
Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs Celebrating. Timothy Charvat, 2024
2024 Perfect Game College Baseball League (PGCBL) season is off to a rocky start for the Utica Blue Sox organization. After a back-and-forth battle with longtime rivals Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs, the Blue Sox would fall 8-7 for their first opening day loss under manager Doug Delett.
Fast-Paced Action
The tone was set in the top of the first inning after Utica starter Andrew Goldan would walk two of the first three batters to come to the plate. After getting two out in the inning, Goldan would throw a wild pitch to Dimond Dawgs designated hitter Bryce Philips that would score shortstop Cristino Tufano to give the Diamond Dawgs a 1-0 lead.
The Blue Sox would not take long to respond. With second baseman Benny Partridge on first with one out in the bottom half of the inning, first baseman Matthew Williams would connect for a two-run homer over the leftfield wall to give the Blue Sox the lead 2-1.
Blue Sox Celebrating Matthew Williams Home Run. Timothy Charvat, 2024
Back and Forth
The lead would change three more times over the course of the next two innings, as Goldan and Diamond Dawgs starter Bo Buckley would labor though their outings.
After two innings, and three runs allowed, Goldan was removed in the third due to pitch count limitations and replaced by Aiden Murray, who would have control issues in his two innings of work. Murray hit the first two batters, and then he gave up two runs in the inning. Murray would bounce back and pitch the first scoreless inning for the Blue Sox.
Buckley, meanwhile, would pitch four innings, allowing four earned runs, but would also settle down after a rocky first two innings to retire six of the final eight batters he faced.
Blue Sox Big Inning
The game would start to pick up in the fifth inning for the Blue Sox. As they trailed the Diamond Dawgs 6-4, and after Buckley was pulled for Chad Yates, all four batter he faced would reach base, which forced the Diamond Dawgs manager Steve Luby to pull Yates for Jacob Lapham.
The inning culminated with right fielder Jayden Ohmar hitting a two-run single to left field to tie the game at six all. The Blue Sox would take the lead later in the inning after center fielder Mike Benedetto hit a sacrifice fly to score Partridge to take a one run lead.
The Back and Forth Continues
The lead would not last long, as the Diamond Dawgs would respond in the top of the sixth, as designated hitter Bryce Phelps would drive the in-centerfielder Brody Rasmussen to tie the game up at six.
Game Set
The game would be set in the eighth inning as fan-favorite Giovanni Canales, who was pitching his first game for the Blue Sox since July 26, 2021, would be pulled after allowing the first two batters to reach and replaced by Gavin Enright.
With two on and one out, and Phelps at the plate, Enright threw a wild pitch while that would score first baseman Jason Campo to take the lead 8-7.
Late Inning Comeback Attempt
The Blue Sox would attempt to make a comeback with Diamond Dawgs pitcher Jaden Fateman on the mound for the final two innings. He would walk three straight times with two outs in the eight. Unfortunately, Partridge would ground out to end the threat.
The Sox would get one final chance against Fateman, he would walk the first two batters in the ninth, which made things tense for both sides. The Sox would not be able to capitalize as Fateman would pitch out of trouble, finishing the game with getting designated hitter Kevin Denly to fly out to end the game.
Notable Performances
Blue Sox extra hitter Norris McClure would go three for four on the day in his season debut.
Left fielder Todd Aberham would also make a strong start to the season, as he hit a triple in the second inning, and would later score on a single by shortstop Johnny Brucato to retake the lead.
Diamond Dawgs relief pitcher Jacob Lapham would have the strongest outing for the night as he would pitch three shutout innings allowing two hits and striking out three.
What’s Next
The Blue Sox will travel to Little Falls on Saturday June 1 as they wrap up their brief two-game set with the Diamond Dogs. The first pitch is at 6:45pm.
Comments