LITTLE FALLS, NY – It was a season of ups and downs for the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs. Unfortunately, with a chance to defend their title on the line, the 2018 season ended with a big thud for Mohawk Valley.

Addison Pawelek and Joe DeSarro both pitched gems for their respective teams, but in the end, it would be a two-run seventh that did the Diamond Dawgs in, ending their season on a 3-2 down note.

There was no score until the top of the third, when Michael Russell (Staten Island, NY/Stony Brook) brought home Samuel Neal (Smithfield, VA/Case Western Reserve) on an RBI single popped up over the left field gap. Meanwhile, Watertown starter Addison Pawelek (/) and Mohawk Valley starter Joe DeSarro (Frankfort, NY/Southern New Hampshire) were dominant on the mound, only allowing a combined nine hits and one run through five full innings.

Ryan Hernandez (Boston, MA/San Jacinto CC) finally broke through in the sixth, sacrificing two outs in a double play ground ball. Unfortunately for the Rapids, that ground ball would bring in Austin Pollack (Harrison, NY/Hofstra). Pollack, with a leadoff double to start things off, has  got on base safely in 41 straight games between the regular season and playoffs. Ben Maycock (Newington, CT/UConn) would give Watertown the lead right back on a passed ball by DeSarro. Trevor Kuncl (Cincinnati, OH/George Washington) would also come home after a throwing error by the Mohawk Valley catcher.

The Diamond Dawgs pulled the game back to within one on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Toohers (Florham Park, NJ/Vilanova), scoring Pollack. Unfortunately, that would be all that reliever Robbie Frongello (Apex, NC/Richmond) would allow, forcing a season-ending double play with runners on first and second

Pawelek picked up the win for Watertown, while Frongello got the save. DeSarro was saddled with the final loss for Mohawk Valley this season. They finished the season with 26 wins against 20 losses.

The Rapids move on in the PGCBL Playoffs to face Amsterdam at Shuttleworth Park.