Amsterdam Mohawks repeat as PGCBL champs, complete sweep of Elmira Pioneers with shutout
ELMIRA - The team that lost only one game in June did not lose any in August and the Amsterdam Mohawks repeated as Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League champions while adding to their growing title collection.
The Mohawks defeated the Elmira Pioneers 3-0 on the road Thursday, completing a sweep of the league's best-of-three championship series with a second consecutive shutout.
Amsterdam has won seven of the PGCBL's last 11 championships and has 15 summer league titles in 21 years with nine in 14 seasons under coach Keith Griffin.
More: Mohawks shut out Pioneers in first game of PGCBL championship series
More: Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League results and highlights for 2023 season
Niagara University right-hander Maximilian Ramirez was dominant for seven innings Thursday and Jack Brodsky got the final six outs at Dunn Field as the duo followed Wednesday's combined 4-0 shutout thrown by teammates Jack Seppings and Peyton Fall.
Ramirez struck out 13 batters and allowed singles in the third and fourth innings. Brodsky added four strikeouts after Ramirez retired the last 10 batters he faced.
The Mohawks scored one run in the fourth inning and added two in the fifth to support their pitchers. Bruer Webster grounded into a force play after Elmira starter Gardner Meeks hit Gage Miller with a pitch to start the fourth. Webster advanced on a ground ball and scored when Cam Gurney doubled.
The fifth inning started with a double and a walk, and Amsterdam loaded the bases with a hit by Luke Zeisloft. The Pioneers forced Marek Houston at home plate for the first out of the inning before Meeks hit Miller again and pushed Zach Eldred home with a run. Webster followed with a single, scoring Zeisloft, and Meeks retired the next two batters, leaving the bases loaded.
Gurney had three hits Thursday and received the playoff most valuable player award. Webster added two hits and Miller reached base four times with a single, a walk and two hit by pitches.
Jake Kelleher who led off the bottom of the eighth inning as the first batter to face Brodsky was the only Elmira batter to reach base after Amsterdam completed its scoring.
The Mohawks also won four of the final eight New York Collegiate Baseball League championships before the PGCBL broke off for the 2011 season. The Mohawks won their first NYCBL championship in 1988 prior to their relocation from Schenectady.
The Mohawks won their first nine games to start the 2023 season and had a 25-1 record through July 5.
A 36-5-1 regular season this summer followed 39-6-1 last year for the Mohawks who are 115-24-3 in three regular and post seasons since the canceled 2020 season. No team beat Amsterdam more than once this summer; the Mohawks were beaten once by Saugerties' Stallions and had a second game end in a tie.
PGCBL Champions
2023 – Amsterdam Mohawks
2022 – Amsterdam Mohawks
2021 – Saugerties Stallions
2020 – Season canceled due to COVID-19
2019 – Amsterdam Mohawks
2018 – Jamestown Jammers
2017 – Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs
2016 – Amsterdam Mohawks
2015 – Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs
2014 – Amsterdam Mohawks
2013 – Amsterdam Mohawks
2012 – Amsterdam Mohawks
2011 – Newark Pilots
The Mohawks previously won championship in 1988, 2003, 2004, 2009 and 2010 in the New York Collegiate Baseball League
July 30 Games
West Division Semifinals
No. 4 Auburn Doubledays 4, No. 1 Batavia Muckdogs 2
No. 2 Elmira Pioneers 7, No. 3 Jamestown Tarp Skunks 0
East Division Quarterfinals
No. 3 Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs 8, No. 6 Glens Falls Dragons 5
No. 4 Saugerties Stallions 5, No. 5 Albany Dutchmen 3
July 31 Games
West Division Final
No. 2 Elmira Pioneers 4, No. 4 Auburn Doubledays 1
East Division Semifinals
No. 1 Amsterdam Mohawks 7, No. 4 Saugerties Stallions 6
No. 2 Utica Blue Sox 3, No. 3 Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs 2
August 1 Game
East Division Final
No. 1 Amsterdam Mohawks, No. 2 Utica Blue Sox 2, 10 innings
Championship Series
Aug. 2: Amsterdam Mohawks 4, Elmira Pioneers 0
Aug. 3: Amsterdam Mohawks 3, Elmira Pioneers 0, Amsterdam wins best-of-three series 2-0
This article originally appeared on Times Telegram: Amsterdam Mohawks win 2023 PGCBL championship series over Elmira
