LITTLE FALLS—Behind another stellar starting pitcher performance from junior southpaw Jamie Storey (Houston Baptist), who tossed over five shutout innings for the second straight time, the first-place Glens Falls Golden Eagles (23-7) showed the third-place Mohawk Valley Diamonddawgs (13-19) why they're ranked No. 18 by Perfect Game Cross Checker, a ranking system of the nation's top 25 summer wood-bat baseball teams.
The Golden Eagles have defeated the Diamonddawgs in all seven meetings between the two teams' this season, limiting them to just one-run in their last three games, and fourth overall. The 2-1 final score was the second time Glens Falls and Mohawk Valley finished with such a score.
Though the Golden Eagles were once again out-hit by the Diamonddawgs, the second time in the last three meetings, Glens Falls pitching prevailed as did clutch hitting down the stretch. In total, Glens Falls tallied five hits to Mohawk Valley's nine.
After being no-hit in their last game, the Golden Eagles offensive didn't pick up a hit until the sixth inning, when freshman outfielder Steve Zavala (Rutgers) singled and advanced freshman infielder Kevin Berry (New Orleans) to second. Berry reached base via his seventh walk of the summer.
Zavala led all Glens Falls hitters with one single, one double, and one RBI, with Giansanti, DerHagopian, and Phillips adding the teams’ other three hits.
Storey, who picked up his first win of the 2009 season in relief against the Watertown Wizards to end June, earned a no-decision for the fourth time this season. In six appearances this year, Storey boosts a 1-1 win-loss record and a 2.18 ERA, which is second best on the Glens Falls pitching staff. Storey also struck out seven Diamonddawgs to increase his season strikeout total to 23.
Sophomore Alex Frederick (Clemson) relieved Storey mid-way through the fifth inning in a 0-0 game. Frederick, who's 1-0 this summer in four appearances and holds a 2.03 ERA, pitched the next five innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out seven. Frederick left the 1-1 game in the 11th inning, leaving the game up to junior right-hander Kellen Candau (Southern Illinois) to secure the victory.
Candau shut down the Diamonddawgs for two scoreless and hitless innings, evening his win-loss record to 1-1 this season in a team-high 10 appearances. Candau's 0.63 ERA and 12 strikeouts rank second out of the Golden Eagles bullpen this season, and he's holding opposing hitters to a mere 0.87 batting average in over 14 innings.
Glens Falls scored their first run on a two wild pitches in the eighth inning. Leadoff with a walk, sophomore Chris Lashmet (Northwestern) advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from junior catcher Gary DerHagopian (Siena) and later scored on a wild pitch before the inning ended to give the Golden Eagles a late 1-0 lead.
Junior outfielder Anthony Giansanti (Siena) singled up the middle leading off the Glens Falls ninth, but was caught stealing for just the second time all season making it a three-up, three-down inning.
DerHagopian, Giansanti's college teammate, had a clutch, two-out single in the 10th, but to no avail and the Golden Eagles and the Diamonddawgs continued into extra innings.
Freshman infielder Eric Phillips (Georgia Southern) also singled with two outs in the 12, but was left stranded on second base.
The games final run came in the Golden Eagles 13th inning when freshman infielder Pepito Moreno (Pima C.C.) worked a one-out walk, his 12th this season, and stole second base to move into scoring position for Zavala. Zavala then roped his team-high eighth double this season, scoring Moreno and giving Glens Falls a 2-1 lead over Mohawk Valley. Zavala added a stolen base when he took third in hopes of scoring a much-needed insurance run.
Despite putting the games' tying run on base with a one-out walk, Candau managed to get the next two batters to fly out and secured the Golden Eagles fourth win out of five extra inning games this season.
Glens Falls plays their next two games at East Field, against the second-place Amsterdam Mohawks tonight at 7 p.m. and the Watertown Wizards on Friday at 7 p.m. Tonight's game will be Scoville Jeweler's 4th Annual Diamond Dig, while Friday's game the Golden Eagles will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day in July.