The Auburn Doubledays erased a two-run deficit with two-run rallies in the seventh and eight innings on Sunday to beat Batavia in a first-round playoff game at Dwyer Stadium, 4-2.
Ryan Kinney, who has been perhaps the Muckdogs ' best starter of 2023, took the loss, going 6 1/3 inning, giving up four earned runs and six hits. He had not previously surrendered more than two earned runs and three hits in a game. He finishes the season at 4-1. His season ERA doubled after today's loss, from 0.84 to 1.64.
The Muckdogs scored both of their runs in the second inning. Kyle Hetherington reached first on an error after striking out. Matt DeStefano followed with a double to right, scoring Hetherington. Trey Bacon singled. Chad Falcon reached first on an error by the first baseman, and DeStefano scored.
But with Auburn's rallies, the season came to an unexpected early end for the Western Division's #1 seed/
With a convincing win over Niagara Power on Saturday and loss by Elmira, the Batavia Muckdogs clinched the Western Division in the regular season finale at Dwyer Stadium.
Batavia won 9-2.
This is the second consecutive Western Division crown of the Muckdogs, coming in their third season in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. The team has posted winning records in all three seasons while being managed by Joey Martinez.
Michael Pedraza came on in relief with one out in the fourth inning with Batavia up 6-0 and got credit for the win. Pedraza went 3 2/3 innings, giving up three hits, one run, and striking out four. He finishes the regular season at 4-2 and a 3.85 ERA.
Hilton resident Preston Prince started, going 4 1/3 innings, surrendering three hits, five walks and one unearned run.
Caleb Rodriguez went 2-3 for the team's only multi-hit game.
Matt DeStefano, from Westbury, went 1-4 and drove in four runs. DeStefano ends the regular season with a .321 average, smacking 21 hits and driving in 13 runs while gathering 11 walks.
The playoffs for the Muckdogs (27-16) start at Dwyer Stadium this evening (Sunday) against the Auburn Doubledays (23-19), who knocked off Elmira on Saturday, to help Batavia get the #1 seed in the Western Division postseason.
The Batavia Muckdogs close out the regular season at Dwyer Stadium tonight with a chance to repeat as Western Division champions on the line.
Trailing the Elmira Pioneers by mere percentage points, the Muckdogs need a win against Niagara Power after a doubleheader split on Friday against Newark.
Batavia won the first game 2-0 behind the pitching of Rijnaldo Euson and Garrett Beaver.
Euson tossed six innings of shutout ball, scattering five hits and fanning eight. Euson finishes the regular season with a record of 3-1 and an ERA of 2.48. He amassed 35 strikeouts.
Beaver picked up his second save in 12 relief appearances. He's 3-0 with a 1.22 ERA.
Lucas Lopez reached base three times, twice on a walk and once with a hit in three plate appearances.
Newark took the second game 4-2.
For Batavia, Lopez was 2 for 3 and Kyle Hetherington went 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Things did not go the Muckdogs way against Niagara Power on Tuesday, but Batavia managed to retain a slender lead in the Western Division of the PGCBL.
Batavia lost 9-2, giving up 16 hits and committing two errors.
Ty Woods was down 3-0 when he was lifted after three innings, having given up two earned runs on nine hits and two walks.
Ben Weber was tagged for six runs and seven hits.
Thomas Blaydes stopped the bleeding with three hitless innings to close out the game.
The Muckdogs, with four games left in the season, are 25-14 with a half-game lead over Elmira (25-15).
Batavia has clinched a playoff spot for the post-season.
The Muckdogs travel to Niagara tonight. The team hosts Newark on Thursday at Dwyer Stadium at 5 p.m.
With a doubleheader sweep of Geneva on Sunday, the Batavia Muckdogs are 25-13 on the season and a game up in the Western Division standings of the PGCBL.
In the first game, Batavia won 12-1.
Preston Prince, from Hilton, tossed all five innings of the first game, giving up only one hit while walking three and striking out nine.
Lucas Lopez went 3-4 and drove in seven runs. Josh Leadem was 1-2 with two walks and two RBIs.
In the second game, Batavia won 9-2.
Ryan Kinney went the distance in the seven-inning game, improving to 4-0 on the season with a 0.84 ERA. He scattered three hits and gave up two unearned runs while striking out eight.
Giuseppe Arcuri went 1-4 and drove in two runs.
The next home game for the Muckdogs is Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. against Niagara Power.
Batavia's Ty Woods delivers a pitch to Jamestown's Zack Kent in the fourth inning, who was attempting to reach base with a bunt. Photo by Howard Owens.
A four-run ninth inning brought the Batavia Muckdogs back from a 6-2 deficit against division rival the Jamestown Tarp Skunks before the home team won in dramatic fashion, 7-6 in the bottom of the 10th inning.
In the ninth, Trey Bacon opened with a walk, followed by a Sean Ladd single.
After Justin Espinal lined into a double play, Josh Leadem walked. Lucas singled to load the bases.
With the bases juiced, one of Batavia's hitting stars of 2023, Giuseppe Arcuri, doubled, driving in Bacon and Leadem.
Lopez and Arcuri scored on a single by the team's leading hitter, Adam Agresti, to tie the score.
In the 10th, the Muckdogs started with Christian Bernadini on second base. The Tarp Skunks gave Brice Mortillaro an intentional walk. Matt DeStefano drew a walk, and then Bernardini scored the winning run on a wild pitch.
Bacon pitched the 10th inning and was credited with the win, walking one and striking out two. Bacon's season ERA remains 0.00.
Julian Pichardo pitched the first third of an inning, giving up one walk and one run. Ty Woods came on in the third and tossed seven innings, giving up five hits and two runs while striking out six. Woods, from Alexander and a GCC student, has a 2.41 ERA on the season.
Lopez was 2-5 with a run scored. Agresti, now hitting .341, was 2-3 with two walks and two RBIs. Arcuri, now hitting .316, was 1-4 with a walk and two runs scored. DeStefano, hitting .283 on the season, was 204 with a walk.
The Muckdogs are now 22-12 with about a week left in the season, a half-game out of first place in the PGCBL Western Division. Elmira leads the division at 22-12. Jamestown is in third at 19-13, two games out of first, and a 3.5 games out of first is Niagara Power at 18-15.
The Muckdogs fell out of first place with a loss to Jamestown on Tuesday, 7-3.
Next up, Newark (9-22) at home on Friday at 6:35 p.m.
The Tarp Skunk's Kieran Gagnon attempts a bunt in the fourth inning. Photo by Howard Owens.
Lucas Lopez singled in the third inning. Photo by Howard Owens.
Giuseppe Arcuri avoids an inside pitch in the third inning. Photo by Howard Owens.
Lucas Lopez fields a routine grounder in the fourth inning. Photo by Howard Owens.
The Alexander Firemen's Band provided between-inning entertainment on Wednesday. Photo by Howard Owens.
Alexander's Ty Woods on the mound in the fifth inning. Photo by Howard Owens.
For the first time in more than a month, the Batavia Muckdogs have lost two games in a row, falling to Niagara Power on Monday in Niagara, 6-3.
On Sunday, the Muckdogs lost at home to Newark 4-2.
Batavia, at 21-12, still leads the Western Division of the PGCBL, but the lead has narrowed to just a half-game over Emira (20-12) and 1.5 games over Jamestown (18-12).
Jamestown hosts Batavia tonight (Tuesday) for the first of two games between the teams.
On Wednesday, the Tarp Skunks play the Muckdogs at Dwyer Stadium. Game time is 6:35 p.m.
There are 10 regular season games left on Batavia's schedule.
The losing pitcher for Batavia on Monday was Rijnaldo Euson, who went four innings, giving up four runs, three earned, and six hits. He had seven strikeouts and is now 2-1 with a 3.72 ERA.
Starter Ben Weber went four innings, giving up two runs on six hits.
The Muckdogs split a doubleheader at home with the Elmira Pioneers on Thursday, winning game one 11-4 and dropping the nightcap 5-3.
Victor Alongi, from Greece and a GCC student, led the offense in the first game, going 3-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Rashad Robinson was 2-2 with a walk, three runs scored, and two RBIs.
The winning pitcher was Jack Keeler, going four innings and giving up two hits, walking none while striking out six. He's now 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA.
In the second game, Robinson went 2-2 with a walk.
Julian Pichardo took the loss, going five innings and giving up four runs, three earned while striking out seven. He's now 3-1 with a 2.17 ERA.
Batavia is now 21-10 and still on top on the Western Division of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League.
The Knights of Columbus Kirby council 325 sponsored the night at the ballpark in honor of celebrating their 125th anniversary that was chartered on April 25th, 1898. The assembly colorguard and members of the council attended the event. They also held a 50/50 raffle where the winner took home $205.00.
At 6:35 p.m. tonight (Friday), the Muckdogs play a non-league game against Rochester at Dwyer Stadium.
The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League announced its mid-season All-Stars for each division and four players from the Batavia Muckdogs made the roster.
They are Julian Pichardo, Trey Bacon, Giuseppe Arcuri, and Adam Agresti.
Starting Pitcher Julian Pichardo is from the University of Fort Lauderdale. He's thrown 36 1/3 innings, is 3-0, with a 1.73 ERA, has tossed a complete game shutout and has amassed 42 strikeouts (tied for the league lead). Photo by Howard Owens.
Giuseppe Arcuri, playing both third base and second base in 2023, is from Saint Leo University and his hitting .341 with 28 hits, 13 runs scored, 14 RBIs, and two stolen bases. Photo by Howard Owens.
Catcher Adam Agresti, St. John's University, is hitting .392 with 29 hits, 18 RBIs, nine doubles, and three stolen bases. Photo by Howard Owens.
We don't have a photo of Trey Bacon, of Santa Fe College. He is 1-1 with five saves, for the league lead, over eight innings pitched. He hasn't given up an earned run and has nine strikeouts.
Cam Carignan scores the tying run for the Batavia Muckdogs, making the game 2-2, in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Geneva Red Wings at Dwyer Stadium on Tuesday. Photo by Howard Owens.
Entering the bottom of the eighth inning in their game against the Geneva Red Wings at Dwyer Stadium on Tuesday, the Batavia Muckdogs were in danger of dropping their second game in a row for the first time since mid-June when the team rallied for four runs and a 5-2 win.
With one out, Cam Carignan reached base on a walk. Rashad Robinson followed with a double, driving in Carignan to tie the game. An infield single by Josh Leadem put runners at first and third. Lucas Lopez singled to right, driving in Robinson to give Batavia the lead at 3-2. Lopez stole second.
With two outs after Adam Agresti struck out, the Red Wings gave Giuseppe Acuri a free pass.
Trey Bacon walked, scoring Leadem. Cristian Bernadini singled to center, scoring Lopez. Arcuri was thrown out at the plate trying to score, ending the inning.
Jacob Bruning, from Gasport, recorded the final three outs in his first appearance of the season to get the save. He struck out two batters.
Michael Pedraza (3-1) got the final out on a strikeout in the top of the eighth, making him the winning pitcher.
Alexander's Ty Woods started and went five innings, giving up two unearned runs, three hits and striking out six Red Wings.
Lopez was named Player of the Game, going 3-4 with a run scored, RBI, and stolen base. Robinson was 2-3 with a run scored, RBI, and a double.
Arcuri was 1-2 with two walks.
Nicholas Franceschi took the loss for Geneva, giving up four runs in 2/3 of an inning. Geneva's starter Drew Mun went evening innings and fanned seven giving up only one run.
Batavia remains atop the Western Division of the PGCBL at 20-9, 2.5 games ahead of Jamestown.
After a day off today, Batavia plays at home on Thursday against Elmira. Game time is 5 p.m.
For more photos and to purchase prints, click here.
Batavia Muckdogs Manager Joey Martinez argues a called third strike against Justin Espinal. Photo by Howard Owens.
Trace Florio on the mound. Photo by Howard Owens.
Giuseppe Arcuri, who started at second on Tuesday, fielding a grounder. Photo by Howard Owens.
In the visitor's dugout, John Ahler, a pitcher and a sophomore from Lafayette College, signs an autograph for a young fan. Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Arcuri safe at second on a fielder's choice. Photo by Howard Owens.
Trace Florio peaks at the plate with a knuckle curve grip on the ball. Photo by Howard Owens.
Shortstop Lucas Lopez makes a putout at second. Photo by Howard Owens.
Rashad Robinson scores the go-ahead run in the eighth inning for the Batavia Muckdogs. Photo by Howard Owens.
Jacob Bruning, from Gasport, recorded the final three outs in his first appearance of the season to get the save. He struck out two batters. Photos by Howard Owens
It's been a rarity these days, but the Batavia Muckdogs lost a game to a division rival on Monday, falling 4-3 to the Jamestown Tarp Skunks in extra innings.
Reliever Trey Bacon took the loss after coming on with one out in the 10th, getting a strikeout before giving up a single to Drew Garth, who would eventually come around to score an unearned run.
Giuseppe Arcuri stayed hot, going 2-3 with a run scored, a double, and a walk. Caleb Rodriguez went 2-4 with a run scored and a stolen base.
The Muckdogs are 19-9 with a two-game lead over Jamestown (15-9) in the West.
At 6:35 tonight (Tuesday), the Muckdogs take on Geneva to start a run of five consecutive home games, which includes games on Thursday, on July 13, July 14 (non-league game), July 15, and July 16.
In other Muckdogs news, Batavia's 2021 starting shortstop Charlie Szykown was taken in the ninth round of the MLB draft by the San Francisco Giants.
Muckdog's manager Joey Martinez promised at the start of the season that the 2023 edition of the hometown team would feature strong pitching.
Ryan Kinney is the latest Batavia starter to prove him right.
Kinney took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against top division rival Elmira at Dwyer Stadium on Saturday night to help the red-hot, division-leading Muckdogs notch its fourth-straight win, 4-2.
The right-hander from Winter Haven, Fla, is now 3-0 on the year with a 0.42 ERA after going 8 1/2, giving up two hits and two runs. He struck out nine Pioneers.
Rijnaldo Euson came on to get the final out for this third save.
The Muckdogs are now 19-8 after winning 10 of their past 12 games and are three games up on Elmira (15-10) in the Western Divison of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League.
The win was also Batavia's 15th straight win at home.
Adam Agresti raised his season average to .409 by going 3-4 with two RBIs and two doubles.
Giuseppe Arcuri went 2-3 with a run scored. Trey Bacon was 1-3 with two RBIs.
Attendance was 1,599.
Batavia is home again on Tuesday against Geneva. Game time is 6:35 p.m.
The Batavia Muckdogs continued their recent winning ways and padded their lead in the PGCBL Western Division by dominating their closest division rival, the Jamestown Tarp Skunks, for a 9-2 win at home on Wednesday.
Julian Pichardo, a University of Fort Lauderdale senior and in his third year with the Muckdogs, notched his 100 career strikeout in the game.
Pichardo got the win (3-0, 1.73) by going 6 2/3 innings, allowing only one run.
He now has K'd 103 batters in his PGCBL career.
It was also a big night for Josh Leadem. The U of R senior scored his 50th career run in the PGCBL, and with three runs scored in the game, now has 53. He was 2-4 with two doubles and two stolen bases.
Leadem is hitting .238 on the season but has drawn 11 walks. He has 21 stolen bases, 18 runs scored, 15 hits, seven RBIs, and one of the team's two home runs.
Adam Agresti went 2-3 with a run scored, a double, and two RBIs, along with a walk. Henry Daniels went 2-2 with an RBI.
The Muckdogs are now 17-8 on the season, and the Tarp Skunks fall to 13-8.
The attendance on Wednesday was 1,844.
Tonight (Thursday), the Muckdogs travel to Geneva to face the Red Wings. They're back home on Friday for a non-league game against Syracuse. Game time is 6:35 p.m. On Saturday, they face Elmira at home. Game time is 6:35 p.m.
The Batavia Muckdogs picked up their 16th win of the 2023 season on Tuesday in an Independence Day match-up in Niagara against the Power.
Tyrone Woods went 6 2/3 innings to pick up the win in the Muckdogs' 3-2 victory. He struck out four. The Alexander resident and GCC student is 2-1 on the season with a 2.91 ERA.
Rijnaldo Euson, who also has two wins on the season, picked up the save, his second.
The Muckdogs' offense:
Lucas Lopez went 2-4.
Adam Agresti went 2-3 with a double, a walk, a run, and a stolen base
Giuseppe Arcuri went 2-4 with two RBIs, a run scored, and a double.
With the win, the Muckdogs put another game between them and third-place Niagara (11-8) and remain a game ahead of second-place Jamestown (13-7), which is tonight's (Wednesday) opponent at Dwyer Stadium. Game time is 6:35 p.m.
The Muckdogs are 8-1 over their last nine official league games and 10-1 overall during that span.
With flags flying and fans anticipating a post-game fireworks show, the Batavia Muckdogs took to the field Monday night for a non-league game against Erie-Buffalo and won 8-7.
Giuseppe Archuri was named Player of the Game, going 3-3 and scoring two runs.
No box score is available for the game.
Arcuri, from Allentown, N.J., has become one of the team's most productive hitters, with 21 hits, an Avg. of .309, and 13 RBI.
Adam Agresti leads the team with an average of .375. He also has 21 hits to go along with 11 RBIs. He's eighth in the league in average.
Matt DeStefano, of Westbury, is hitting .333 (12 hits) with seven walks.
James Aselta is hitting .365 but doesn't have enough at-bats (22) to qualify among league leaders. Anthony Calabro has drawn 14 walks to go along with 11 RBIs with an average of .238. Infielder Lucas Lopez is hitting .300.
The next home game is Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. against the Jamestown Tarp Skunks.
Muckdogs player scoring a much needed run. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Muckdogs players pose in dugout. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Katie Muntz was nominated teacher of the game. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Some members of the Brantford bobcats 15U softball team was in the states for a tournament in Genesee County this weekend. They were also celebrating Canada day. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Muckdogs pitcher throwing another strike. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Muckdogs catcher making the out at home plate and turning to first base for a double play. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Turning two with a double play at first base. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Kids running the bases. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Extra hat for dad by his son during the game. Photo by Steve Ognibene
KMS Diamond Dance Team and Johnny Dog entertaining the crowd between innings. Photo by Steve Ognibene
The Batavia Muckdogs ran their win streak to seven games on Thursday in an unusual fashion: A walk-off interference call.
With the score tied 3-3 in the 10th inning against Niagara Power, an umpire ruled Power's third baseman Andrew Fairbrother interfered with the Muckdog's runner, Anthony Calabro, while Calabro was advancing to third on a wild pitch. Calabro was awarded home plate and the winning run.
Garrett Beaver, who pitched the final two frames and didn't give up a hit or a run while striking out two, got the win. Starter Julian Pichardo went six innings, giving up four hits, two runs (one earned) and striking out six.
Earlier in the evening, the Muckdogs picked up a win against Niagara by completing a game the two teams started on Tuesday, which was suspended in the bottom of the ninth.
At the time of the suspension, the Muckdogs trailed 5-4 with one out and Caleb Rodriguez at the plate on a 3-2 count. Matt DeStefano was on third base.
When the game resumed, Rodriquez singled, driving in DeStefano.
Rashad Robinson then reached on an error, putting runners at first and second. Rodriguez then scored the winning run on a single by Lucas Lopez.
Garrett Beaver got the win in relief. Adam Agresti went 3-3.
The Muckdogs are now 15-7 on the season and a game ahead of Jamestown (12-6) in the Western Division and two games ahead of Elmira (11-7).
Tonight (Friday), the Muckdogs are on the road for a game against Niagara Power. They return to Dwyer on Saturday to start a three-game homestand. First up, Queen City at 6:35 p.m. On Sunday, the game time is 4:05 p.m. against Elimra, and on Monday, with a 4th of July Fireworks celebration to follow, the Muckdogs play Erie Buffalo at 6:35 p.m.
At the game on Monday, be sure to visit The Batavian's booth.
The Batavia Muckdogs picked up their fourth straight win at home on Saturday, beating Elmira 9-2.
At 12-7, the Muckdogs are tied for first place in the Western Division, percentage points behind Niagara Power, 9-4. Amsterdam leads the Eastern Division at 17-1.
Jack Keeler (2-0, 3.21) got the win, going five innings, giving up three hits and two runs (neither were earned), while walking two and striking out two.
Ben Weber picked up his first save, going two innings and striking out four.
Matt DeStefano (Avg. .347) reached base in all four plate appearances, going 2-2 with two Walks, an RBI and a run scored. Victor Alongi went 2-4 with three RBIs. Anthony Calabro scored two runs.
The Muckdogs host Geneva today (Sunday) at 4:05 p.m.
