By Josh McMullen – Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs

LITTLE FALLS, NY – Are the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs actually Diamond Cats?

They certainly have proven – especially Sunday night in the PGCBL Eastern Division Quarterfinals – that they have nine lives. Mohawk Valley endured a furious five-run ninth by the Glens Falls Dragons – and a disputed call at home plate at the end — to win their quarterfinal matchup, 8-5.

The Diamond Dawgs brought home the first run of the game just three batters in. Glens Falls catcher Anthony Macarelli (North Greenbush, NY/Ithaca) bobbled a pitch from pitcher Patrick Reilly (Albany, NY/Central Connecticut), allowing Nick Sturino (New Milford, CT/Fairfield) to come home on a passed ball.

Brady Shannon (Youngstown, OH/Central Florida) extended the lead to three in the second, blasting a two-run shot to center field that scored himself and Sam Miller (McMurray, PA/Columbia). The lead ballooned to four two batters later, bouncing a ball into center field to bring Justin Hackett (Wallingford, CT/Bryant) home from second base.

The Diamond Dawgs broke apart the game in the fourth with another three-run inning, capped off with an RBI double by Hackett, and another passed ball by Macarelli.

Mark Darakjy (Randolph, NJ/St. Bonaventure) put the game very nearly out of reach, scoring Sebastian Mueller (Pottersville, NJ/Quinnipiac) from first base with a towering fly ball to center field in the seventh.

The Dragons would not say die, however, breaking up the shut out in the ninth. An RBI single to right by Johan Sandoval (Santo Domingo/Bryant and Stratton) brought in Alex Sandell (Cambridge, MA/Holy Cross) from second base. Jack Griffin (Mechanicville, NY/Saint Rose) would bring home another run on a sacrifice fly, while a high bouncing ball on the next batter brought home Adrian Caron (Amherst College). A fielder’s choice would bring home Odilio Cespedes (Santo Domingo/Bryant and Stratton), but that was as close as Glens Falls would get, as an RBI double turned into a close play at the plate for the third out and an end to Glens Falls’ season.

Colton Trisch (Bangor, ME/George Washington) got the win for Mohawk Valley. Reilly got the loss for Glens Falls.

The Diamond Dawgs move on to the Eastern Division Semi-Finals, where they will face the Utica Blue Sox on Monday. The Dragons’ season ends with a record of 14-27.

If you want to watch the live stream of the games, you can go to https://mvdiamonddawgs.com/livestream/, or if you have an Apple TV device or Roku, search for Creative Outpost and add the app.

Photos by Dave Warner