GLENS FALLS --- Catcher Nick Valdez sprinted to first base, gaining momentum the harder he pushed himself, but still could not beat the throw to first, leaving attendees at East Field with the last sounds of baseball they'll hear until next summer.

The Glens Falls Golden Eagles dropped their final home game of the season to Amsterdam, 4-0, in a New York Collegiate Baseball League game Friday, and will play out their final two games of the season away at Plattsburgh today at 5 p.m. and at Watertown on Sunday at 7 p.m

Glens Falls (16-28) failed to make the playoffs this season, but Amsterdam, the first-place team in the East Division, will begin play in the postseason next week.

Amsterdam's starting pitcher, Mark Suchowiecki, jumped on the Eagles from the start and finished with 15 strikeouts in a three-hit performance. The only Eagles player to get multiple hits off Suchowiecki was center fielder Tony Clausen, who went 2-for-4.

The Golden Eagles were in position to score in the first inning with a runner on first and second with only one out, but Suchowiecki struck out the next two batters and never looked back. He didn't allow another hit until the middle of the sixth and was relieved in the ninth.

Will Groff and Ryan Saltzgaber each had a hit for the Eagles

"He pitched a great game," said Glens Falls coach John Mayotte of Suchowiecki. "He had great velocity on his fastball and he had great command."

Mayotte gave credit to his starting pitcher, as well. Shaun McNamara, a junior at Brown University, struck out six in 6 1/3 innings and allowed one hit until the fourth inning when the Mohawks scored three runs on three hits.

"It makes you feel good to see a guy that like get better during the season," Mayotte said. "Shaun is a great pitcher."

The Golden Eagles still managed to contain Amsterdam, which left seven on base, thanks to the quick feet of Groff at third base and Clausen in the outfield.



AMSTERDAM GLENS FALLS

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Halloran 2b 4 0 1 1 Saltzgaber ss 4 0 1 0

Wolf c 3 0 0 0 Groff 3b 4 0 1 0

Simon lf 3 1 3 0 Clausen cf 4 0 2 0

Riggey dh 5 0 1 1 Hughes lf 4 0 0 0

Chrissy 1b 2 1 0 0 Valdez cf 3 0 0 0

Gilbertson rf 4 1 2 0 Clark rf 3 0 0 0

Chinn 3b 4 1 1 0 Konstanty 1b 3 0 0 0

Kennedy cf 3 0 2 2 Ferguson dh 3 0 0 0

Ware ss 4 0 0 0 Hagey 2b 2 0 0 0

Combs ph 1 0 0 0

Rogers ph 2 0 0 0

TOTALS 35 4 10 4 TOTALS 31 9 11 7

Amsterdam 000 300 010 -- 4

Glens Falls 000 000 000 -- 9

E -- Hagey. 2B -- Chinn. 3B -- Simon 2. SB -- Chinn, Kennedy, Gilbertson 2. LOB -- Amsterdam 7, Glens Falls 3. Double plays -- Glens Falls 1.

IP H R ER BB SO

Amsterdam

Suchowiecki, W 7 3 0 0 1 15

Petrill, S 2 1 0 0 0 1

Glens Falls

McNamara, L 6 1/3 6 3 2 4 8

Carrington 2 2/3 4 1 1 0 4

HBP -- Wolf (by McNamara), Gilbertson (by Carrington); Hagey (by Suchowiecki).

T -- 2:30. A -- 105 (est.)