People may not have expected to hear AHS head coach Brian Spagnola say that his team “needs to improve” following the Amsterdam varsity baseball team’s 16-5 win over Glens Falls on Monday afternoon at Shuttleworth Park. Amsterdam’s lopsided win was, however, aided by several Glens Falls errors helping Amsterdam (3-0, 2-0 Foothills Council) remain unbeaten so far in the young season.
“We still have to play better,” said Coach Spagnola. “I know its odd hearing me say that considering the score, but we need to play better. Our guys know we need to be better.”
Amsterdam fell behind early when Glens Falls put a pair of runners on in the top of the first against AHS starting pitcher Tony Isabel. Justin Nolan earned a one out walk and moved into scoring position on Logan Akins single. Nolan Murphy’s ground out plated Nolan for a 1-0 Indians lead. Amsterdam responded in their half of the inning but scored without the benefit of a base hit.
Glens Falls starting hurler John Suffern was on his game early mixing several off speed pitches to record a pair of ground ball outs in the bottom of the first. However, the defense behind Suffern didn’t help the lefty’s cause. An infield error put Ben Rhodes aboard, who moved to second then third on a passed ball and a wild pitch. The second fielding error on Brady McGillin’s grounder scored Rhodes to tie the game. The pair of fielding errors were unfortunately only the beginning of a mistake filled night for the Indians defense.
Amsterdam first baseman Anthony Noce reached on an infield error to lead off the bottom of the second and scored on Bryan Stanavich’s single to give Amsterdam the lead once again. Glens Falls drew even in the top of the third on Murphy’s run scoring single that brought around Nathan Poag, who had led off the inning with a walk. Amsterdam took the lead for good in the bottom of the third when an outfield error on a high pop fly allowed both Brett Flint and Kyle Agresta to score without a throw to the plate. Suffern could have been hurling a shutout for Glens Falls, but the four errors in the first three innings did more damage than the three Amsterdam hits.
“We had some poor at bats early in the game that got better late,” said Coach Spagnola. “We have to get better.”
Suffern’s night was done after the third, and the Amsterdam bats got better against the Glens Falls bullpen. Brian Stanavich’s second single and a pair of doubles from Rhodes and Brady McGillin produced a four run fourth off Marcus Owens. Glens Falls got one back on a towering home run over the wall in left by Logan Akins, but the Rams put the game out of reach in the fifth with an eight run outburst keyed by six hits including a triple by Dale Stanavich, a double from Kyle Sherlock and RBI singles from Rhodes, AJ Marciniak, David Crawford, and Brian Cranker putting Amsterdam up 16-3 after five and giving Amsterdam a chance to call it an early night for starting hurler Tony Isabel.
Isabel had only one rough inning, in the third when Glens Falls loaded the bases with only one out. A pair of walks to Poag and Akins, and a single by AJ Weils setting the stage for Murphy’s game tying hit. But, Isabel settled down and struck out Owens and Eddie Ryan to end the inning. Isabel went five innings allowing three runs on four hits with five walks and three strikeouts.
“He did that against Fonda,” said Coach Spagnola after Isabel pitched his way out of a jam in the third. “He has to get his command better and not get into those situations. He fights his way out of jams and battles. He’s a tough kid.”
Rhodes and Flint each scored three runs for the Rams. Rhodes had three hits to lead the 15 hit attack, most coming after the third inning. Brandon McGillin also had a single for the Rams.
Akins had two of the Indians six hits. Eddie Ryan added a two run single to finish the scoring. Poag also had a single for Glens Falls. Suffern pitched three innings allowing four runs on three hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
Amsterdam is back in action today at Shuttleworth Park with a Foothills Council contest against Queensbury. The first pitch is slated for 4:30pm. The Rams will also be home on Friday with a same start time against Schuylerville.
(Photos by Scott Mulford)
