pgcbl.com

Glens Falls, N.Y.- The Glens Falls Dragons opened up the summer with a pre-season matchup with the Albany Athletics out of the Twilight League, Tuesday night at East Field. New Head Coach Casey Job proved to have a team stacked with bats and pitchers behind him as he collected his first win of the season.

Matt Stoikov (Northwood) started on the bump for the Dragons and would allow no runs in the top of the first. As the Dragons stepped to the plate Drew Greenwood (Bellarmine) pushed the first run across the plate as he hit a RBI double, scoring Brian Granton (Colby Community College).  Later in the inning, Nick Proto (University of Tennessee Martin) stepped to the plate with bases loaded, he hit into a fielder’s choice beating out the double play throw and scoring a run. Dragons ended the inning up 2-0.

The Athletics were able to tally a run due to a wild pitch from Mike Sinnott, but that’s all they would get for the remainder of the game, as the Dragons continued to show their dominance.

In the bottom of the third, Trevor Smeeton (University of West Alabama) drew a bases loaded walk, scoring Adam Cook (Lewis-Clark State). Josh Hoagland (Oswego State) would hit a two RBI single scoring Proto and Griffin Neuer (Bellarmine), Granton would add to the stat sheet with an RBI single scoring Hoagland, extending the Dragon’s lead 6-1. Chris Salamida (Oneonta State) would make a diving catch in centerfield to end the inning.

Hoagland said Job’s message to the team before the game was clear, “For everyone to buy in from the starters to the bench players, everyone comes out to play baseball and win.”

Three back-to-back one, two, three innings for the Dragons would round out the fourth, fifth and sixth innings shared amongst three different pitchers Jeremy Norris (Grand Canyon), Joe Jones (Maryville) and Triston Hubler (Oklahoma Panhandle).

The Dragons back on the attack with their bats in the bottom of the sixth. Hoagland singled, then as he was stealing second was hit by the throw down and advanced to third. Alex Chandler (Saint Rose) would draw a walk, allowing runners on the corners as Hoagland would score on a wild pitch, Chandler advanced to second but would stay there as the inning came to a close.

Tacking on more runs for the Dragons would be Smeeton as he singles, scoring Neuer, sending Proto to third and then advancing himself to second on the throw. Daniel Lowndes (Siena College) hit a two RBI single sending both Proto and Smeeton across the plate, as the Dragons pushed their runs into double digits.

Smeeton’s focus was not on his own personal performance tonight but what he could do to help his team as a whole, “Everytime you get up, you’re thinking base hits, trying to drive in runs, get in scoring positions and help the team out.”

Neuer was pleased with the team chemistry early on this season, “We have to play hard and execute every pitch. This game gives us lots of confidence, and we all play hard and when we play hard we are going to come away with lots of W’s.”

The Dragons testing out the depth of their bullpen as nine pitchers all shared the mound tonight respectfully in the 10-1 victory.

Head Coach Casey Job had nothing but praise toward his pitchers after the game, “Our pitchers all came in game ready. They didn’t need to see a few batters to get going, they came in firing right away throwing strikes.”

Tomorrow returner Drew Brooks will take the mound to start things off in the regular season of PGCBL play against the Saugerties Stallions in Saugerties.