Golden Eagles Clinch Playoff Spot

July 22, 2011 - Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL)
Glens Falls Dragons News Release


Glens Falls, NY - With another day of warm blistering heat striking East Field Friday evening, the Glens Falls Golden Eagles split a doubleheader with the Albany Dutchmen winning 4-3 in the first game before falling 6-2 in the nightcap. However, the opening win with its bottom of the seventh heroics was enough to assure the Golden Eagles a spot in the PGCBL playoffs this August.

With the bases loaded and one-out in the bottom of the seventh, second baseman Kyle Ruchim (Northwestern) sent the game-winner into right center giving the Golden Eagles a 4-3 come from behind victory over the Albany Dutchmen in Game 1 of the doubleheader at East Field.

Golden Eagles reliever Pete Noordsy (Wofford) pitched two scoreless innings to improve to 3-0 on the season while Dutchmen reliever Zach Robinson (Miami) allowed the winning run to score after tossing one and one-third innings.

Ricky Claudio (St. Thomas) led off the bottom of the seventh with a double and Cody Lewis (San Diego) was intentionally walked setting up the double play. With one-out, designated hitter JP Leto (Lauleen B. Wallace CC) walked on four pitches and Ruchim followed with the game-winning hit to score Ricky Claudio.

Golden Eagles starter Nick Gonzalez (Southern Florida) and Dutchmen starter Steven Poche (Southeastern Louisiana) each went five innings allowing three runs.

The Dutchmen took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning after three consecutive two-out RBI singles by centerfielder Ryan Van Amburg (Pepperdine), second baseman Joey Boney (Cypress) and shortstop Anthony Turgeon (Central Connecticut State).

The Golden Eagles battled back to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth. KJ Alexander (Dallas Baptist) started the rally with a leadoff double and then scored on Claudio's RBI double to left field cutting the Dutchmen lead to 3-1. Right fielder Lewis picked up his first RBI of the season as he sent a double over the head of first baseman Garren Palmer (Georgia Southern) to get the Golden Eagles within one. With one-out, the Golden Eagles tied the game at 3-3 as Lewis scored on Ruchim's RBI fielder's choice.

Centerfielder Claudio finished three-for-three with two doubles; two-runs scored and an RBI while second baseman Ruchim went three-for-four with two-RBI's as the team clinched a PGCBL playoff spot.

However, as the green and gold entered the second game of the doubleheader, making up for an earlier rainout, Dutchmen starter Justin Brantley (Siena) held the Golden Eagles hitless into the fourth as he pitched a complete game for Albany despite more late inning heroics for Glens Falls.

Taking the lead early, Dutchmen centerfielder Andrew Deeds (Morehead St) hit a sac fly to center in the first to score Boney who had reached on a walk. The run scoring would continue for Albany in fourth as Deeds led off with a double to then score on a Will Remillard (Temple) RBI single. Steve Anderson (Georgetown) would then hit a two-run homerun to left to putting the Dutchmen up 4-0. Adding another run to Albany's total was an RBI double off the bat of Van Amburg to plate Dain McNabb (Middle Tennessee State) giving the Dutchmen a commanding 5-0 lead. Capping the scoring for the evening for Albany was a run scored by Remillard on an E4 after he reached on a single.

Mounting a spirited comeback in the bottom of the seventh, Glens Falls was unable to replicate its earlier heroics. Mike Kindel (Kansas State) crushed a towering two-run homerun to center to plate Anderson putting the Golden Eagles on the board trailing 6-2. Despite the crowd-exciting homerun, the Golden Eagles were unable to score again as Albany's Brantley retired the final three batters in order.

Starring in game two for the Dutchmen was Anderson who had two hits including his two-run homerun in addition to a walk. Remillard also played well scoring twice on two hits while adding an RBI.

Leading the Golden Eagles offense in the second game was Claudio who added two doubles to his impressive first game totals as well as Kindel with his seventh inning homerun.

Brantley went seven strong innings allowing only two runs on six hits while striking out seven and improving to 2-2 on the season.

Taking the loss for Glens Falls was starter Dylan Baker (Tacoma CC) who drops to 0-2 after allowing four runs (three earned) and striking out three batters over three innings. Pitching well in relief for the Golden Eagles was Chris Myers (Georgia Southern) who allowed two runs to score although none were earned and Jordan Keysor (Skidmore) who pitched two scoreless innings with four strikeouts to end the nightcap.

Saturday, the Golden Eagles (22-13) will host Free Ice Cream Night vs. the Newark Pilots at East Field. The Dutchmen (16-19) will host the Watertown Wizards its Bellizzi Stadium home field.

For more information on the playoff-bound Glens Falls Golden Eagles and the Albany Dutchmen, please follow the teams on Facebook and Twitter and visit the team websites at http://www.glensfallsgoldeneagles.com and http://wwwdutchmenbaseball.com.



Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 22, 2011


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