June 8, 2018
Tevlin Comes Just Short Of Cycle, Pitching Stellar in Diamond Dawgs Exhibition Win
LITTLE FALLS, NY – The Capital City Reds came into Veteran’s Memorial Park almost exactly one year ago (as of the writing of this article) and squeaked out a win, 4-2 over the eventual Perfect Game Collegiate League champions, the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs. This year’s exhibition game gave the Diamond Dawgs a chance at redemption, and this time, they would make sure they got it.
Joe Tevlin came a triple short of the cycle and the Mohawk Valley pitching staff was dominant as usual, with seven straight innings of scoreless ball to pick up the 7-1 exhibition victory.
Tevlin (Toronto, ON/Niagara) made sure his first hit as a Diamond Dawg would be one to remember, as he looped a ball into right field in the second to score Mike Young (Chester, NJ/UMass Lowell) and Jake Barbiere (Randolph, NJ/Rider). Pulling off the elusive double steal, the Diamond Dawgs were able to extend their lead, as Tyler Bruno (Breinigsville, PA/Villanova made his way around with the help of Tevlin.
Mohawk Valley extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth on a passed ball that got away from the Capital City catcher and dribbled down the third base line. When the dust settled, both runners, John LaRocca (Plainview, NY/Monmouth) and Tevlin. Bruno extended the lead even further for the Diamond Dawgs in the fifth, with a sacrifice fly that would score Young for the second time in the game.
Tevlin would get back on the scoresheet just two pitches into the sixth, smacking a home run over the left-center field wall seemingly with ease.
The Reds finally got on the board in the top of the eighth, when former Adirondack Trail Blazer Charlie Hooker (Alderson Broaddus University) knocked a double to the left field that would score Brian Hill (Spokane Falls CC).
On the mound, the tandem of Ben Wager (Johnstown, NY/Herkimer),Tim Geissel (Scotch Plains, NJ/St. John Fisher), Jon Hardy (Clinton, NY/Mohawk Valley CC) and hybrid pitcher/batter Ryan Toohers (Florham Park, NJ/Villanova) piched an admirable game for Mohawk Valley. They kept the Reds scoreless through eight innings while leaning on considerable run support to put away the Reds.
Wager picked up the win, while Jackson Dietel (Cloud County CC) picked up the loss for Capital City.
The Diamond Dawgs will complete their three-game homestand on Saturday with a rematch of their season opener with the Watertown Rapids. The Reds will travel down the New York State Thruway for an exhibition with the Albany A’s of the Albany Twilight League.