Golden Eagles Streak Snapped at Seven by Harper, Amsterdam

Matt Arietta

Glens Falls Golden Eagles

August 2, 2011

AMSTERDAM, NY - A win away from clinching first place in the Eastern Division of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, your Glens Falls Golden Eagles headed to Amsterdam, NY Tuesday for a showdown with Eastern Conference rivals, the Amsterdam Mohawks. Making their second appearance in Amsterdam in three days, this matchup once again would carry with it high stakes, and first round playoff implications.

For Glens Falls on Tuesday night, a win in Amsterdam would be all they would need in order to lock up home field advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference Divisional Playoffs. With Glens Falls taking the division title, it would also mean a home game on Friday night, August 5^th, 2011, at East Field, for the opening game of the playoffs, which ironically will be played versus Amsterdam.

For Glens Falls tonight, head coach John Mayotte, along with Pitching Coach Sean Cashman called on Southern Maine’s southpaw, Brennan Perry who would walk to the mound in the bottom of the first Tuesday carrying with him a 5-1 record on the season. Perry’s counterpart in this one would be Amsterdam’s Ryan Harper (St. Rose) who has complied a 0-1 record as of this point on the year.

Perry, this evening would not be as effective as his 5-1 record coming into today would show, against the good offense of the Mohawks. Perry would last three and two thirds allowing five runs (all earned) on seven hits, and striking out four as well as walking four batters. Perry also hit a batter out of the twenty-one batters faced on the night.

Glens Falls native, Peter Noordsy (Wofford), would follow Perry, as he came on with two out in the fourth inning to relieve Perry. Inheriting a five to nothing deficit, Noordsy continued his dominance on the mound of late, going two innings allowing two hits and no runs. Also out of the eleven batters faced, Pete was able to “K” two as well as walk two of the Mohawks on the night.

Golden Eagles pitchers, Chris Myers (Georgia Southern) and Jordan Keysor (Skidmore) both followed Noordsy out of the ‘pen’. Myers who recorded the last out in the seventh and two in the eighth, allowed two hits and a run (earned) in his outing at Shuttleworth Park tonight. Despite the run, Myers did record a strikeout while facing six batters.

Jordan Keysor finished the game for the Golden Eagles on the bump as he relieved Myers in the eight with two outs. Jordan quickly retired Jude Vidrine from Lamar  (Texas) getting him to ground out to shortstop, and then continued to mow down Mohawks in the bottom half of the eighth, retiring three straight after walking designated hitter Luke Maile (Kentucky) to start the frame.

One would anticipate an offensive show from Glens Falls, as that has been the case throughout the win streak. Today would not be the case, even in the launch pad for hitters in Shuttleworth Park.

Tonight your Golden Eagles were held to five hits and only crossed two runs over the dish. Offensive highlights started in the top of the second as Yavapai freshman, Josh Anderson led off the inning with his ninth home run of the summer season. With the home run, Anderson would improve on his single season home run record that he set yesterday at East Field versus the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs.

Golden Eagles last run on the night would come off the bat of Ricky Claudio who would drive in Anthony Pisani in the Golden Eagles half of the fifth inning. Pisani (Southern Maine), would reach base prior to Claudio’s at bat due to being hit by Harper’s 1-2 offering. Moving to third on an error by third basemen Matt Mack (Radford), he would be driven in on Claudio’s single, which would follow the error. With the RBI, Ricky Claudio (St. Thomas), extended his season total to fourteen on the season.

The Golden Eagles would end the game four runs off the lead, at 6-2. Glens Falls would score their two runs on five hits, whereas it would take Amsterdam twelve hits to post their six runs. With the loss, Glens Falls and Amsterdam stay locked for home field for the first round of the playoffs.

For your Golden Eagles, a win tomorrow in any of the two games against the Albany Dutchmen would solidify them a home game in Friday’s opening matchup versus Amsterdam. Come out and root your home team into the playoffs for their regular season finale, starting with the first pitch of the first game of the two game set slated for five. Go GOLDEN EAGLES!

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