By JON RATHBUN
Times Sports Editor
Posted Jun. 11, 2014 @ 3:18 am
LITTLE FALLS, N.Y. — The Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs made it three in a row Tuesday with their 5-4 win over the Watertown Rams at Veterans Memorial Park.
The DiamondDawgs built a 5-1 lead behind Herkimer County Community College’s University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff-bound Michael DeCarlo then held off a late rally by the Rams for their third consecutive victory.
A bunt single and a ht to left field helped put Rams on second and third with one out in the eighth when Evan Kissinger relieved Matt Pidich for Mohawk Valley. Third baseman Zach Collett threw Watertown’s Robbie Alessandrine out at the plate on Joe Ogren’s grounder but Willi Martin drove in a run with a single to center field and two more runs came home on a double by Drew Hercik. With the tying run in scoring position, Josh Hassell flew out to end the inning.
Enzo Esposito pitched the ninth inning for the DiamondDawgs and earned a save for the second straight night. Esposito struck Watertown’s first batter out and retired the next two on a pop-up and a ground ball.
Esposito also saved Monday’s win in Glens Falls in his Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League debut.
Doubles by Nick Moore, the first of two he had Tuesday, and Ogren gave the Rams a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Watertown would get just one more hit against DeCarlo, the Mountain Valley Conference Player of the Year, as the second-year DiamondDawg went six innings with five strikeouts and one walk.
Mohawk Valley strung together four hits in the second inning to take a 3-1 lead. Collett led off with a double and Eric Strano followed with a single to tie the game. Collett was initially called out at the plate but the umpire changed his call when center fielder Josh Hassell’s throw squirted away from catcher Joe DeLuca. Strano was thrown out at third base when Zane Smith grounded to Alessandrine at shortstop.
Jayson Sullivan singled for the DiamondDawgs and Smith, who was at first held up at third base scored on a hit by Justin Thomas. Sullivan scored on an error on Greg Fazio’s grounder.
Smith started the fourth inning with a single and scored when Sullivan followed with a double. Mitch Sewald walked Jake Glauser with two outs the gave up a run-scoring single on a 2-2 pitch to Colin Hawk.
Strano, Smith and Sullivan each had two of the nine Mohawk Valley hits.
Moore, Ogren and Hercik had two hits each for Watertown.
The DiamondDawgs play at holme again Wednseday against Amsterdam.
Read more: http://www.littlefallstimes.com/article/20140611/Sports/140619875#ixzz34Kdwg6Mu