JULY 27, 2004
Golden Eagles drop Game 1
Late rally by Amsterdam gives Mohawks a 6-4 win
By MICHAEL LEWIS - mlewis@poststar.com

ERIN R. COKER - THE POST STAR Glens Falls starting pitcher Brett Zamzow releases a pitch against the Amsterdam Mohawks on Monday night during their East Division playoff game at East Field.

GLENS FALLS -- The Glens Falls Golden Eagles have been dominant for two months.

This morning, they find themselves nine innings away from being sent home.

In a surprising turn of events, the Amsterdam Mohawks rallied from a 4-1 seventh-inning deficit to storm past Glens Falls, 6-4, in Game 1 of the New York Collegiate Baseball League divisional playoffs Monday night at East Field.

Amsterdam, which had lost six of eight to Glens Falls in the regular season, can wrap up the best-of-three series tonight at home at Shuttleworth Park at 6.

"It's disheartening, but it's not over or anything," said Eagles losing pitcher Brett Zamzow. "We're down, but it's one game and we still have a great chance."

Glens Falls ripped through the NYCBL season with strong pitching and timely offense, but both things were absent in the late innings Monday.

After getting to Amsterdam starter Gian Testa for four runs in the bottom of the fifth, the Golden Eagles looked to be in firm control, especially with ace Zamzow on the mound.

But the Mohawks got a lift from a solo home run by Joe Mariano in the top of the seventh, cutting the Amsterdam deficit to 4-2.

"That was huge, because all of a sudden in the dugout guys were believing we could hit him (Zamzow)," Amsterdam coach Nicholas Enriquez said. "I kept telling the guys, 'We can do this, we can do this.' "

With one out in the eighth, Zamzow allowed a walk to Jared McGuire, followed by a run-scoring double by John Allman.

Then came perhaps the at-bat of the game by Amsterdam's Vince Riggi. The Saratoga Springs High School graduate fell behind 0-2, then fouled off two straight Zamzow offerings. Finally Riggi bounced a single into left, scoring McGuire to tie the game.

"I couldn't get my breaking ball over and they just started to sit on the fastball," Zamzow said. "You have to give (Riggi) credit because he hit a good pitch."

One batter later Zamzow was lifted from the game for reliever Shawn Ryan. Amsterdam's Josh Goldberg fought off an inside pitch from Ryan and blooped a hit into right, giving the Mohawks a 5-4 lead.

"That's when I knew it was their night, when that hit fell in," Eagles coach John Mayotte said.

As it has all season, Glens Falls rallied in the ninth. A stunning bunt single by catcher Aaron Hepner was followed by a single to center by Eric Lawson, placing runners on first and third with no out.

But after failing to get a bunt down, Jeremy Goldschmeding struck out and Terry Blunt grounded into a double play to end the game.

For Glens Falls, the season is now in the hands of righthanded pitcher Jeremy Hall, who starts tonight against Amsterdam's Derrick Gordon.

Game 3, if necessary, will be Wednesday at 7 p.m at East Field.