Dutchmen Set To Begin 2014 Season

By: Ryan Murphy

Albany, N.Y. — The Albany Dutchmen open their sixth season, and fourth in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, tonight against the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs at Bob Bellizzi Field in Albany. The Dutchmen are coming off their best season in franchise history, recording 26 wins and advancing to the PGCBL East Division Finals for the first time.  In 2013, the Dutchmen qualified for the playoffs on the final day of the regular season, toppling Glens Falls in a 16-inning affair. Albany also claimed their first ever playoff victory by defeating the DiamondDawgs in an 11-inning game. The team was ranked as high as #9 in the nation by Perfect Game after a blazing start, which saw the Dutchmen sit atop the PGCBL with a 9-1 record.

Reigning PGCBL Coach of the Year Nick Davey returns to lead Albany for his fifth season at the helm. Also returning from the 2013 team are third baseman Nick Morton (Trinity) and pitcher Jose Hernandez (Dean College), who is slated to start for the Dutchmen on Friday. Assistant Coach Sean Buchanan will also return as hitting coach from last year’s team. Kevin Salmon and Josh Johnson round out the Albany coaching staff, both in their first year with the team

Jake Welch (Notre Dame College) will get the ball on Opening Night for the Dutchmen. Welch tossed seven complete games in his 12 starts at Notre Dame College this season, striking out 80 hitters over 77.1 innings and compiling a 7-3 record.

The Dutchmen also will feature 2011 Major League Baseball Draft selection Reid Matthews (Coastal Carolina). Matthews was selected in the 35th round of the 2011 Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Matthews is the seventh MLB draftee to suit up for the Dutchmen.

As usual, the Dutchmen will showcase some of the best local talent throughout the summer. Chris Amorosi (Siena) will pitch for Albany after a successful freshman season with the Saints, which saw them win the MAAC and advance to the NCAA Tournament. In total, eight players on the Dutchmen’s Opening Night roster hail from the state of New York.

Opening Night is the beginning of a two-game homestand for the Dutchmen. After an off day on Thursday, the Dutchmen will welcome the Newark Pilots to Bob Bellizzi Field on Friday. Over the weekend, Albany hits the road for two games — Amsterdam on Saturday and Watertown on Sunday.



Search Archive »





Browse by Month »

March 2024
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
January 2022
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
March 2021
May 2020
March 2020
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
November 2018
October 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
October 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
October 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
Ignite Business Solutions