Rispoli's walk-off caps miraculous comeback, as Amsterdam Mohawks claim third straight PGCBL title

Great teams find ways to win games, even when the situation is far from ideal. And if history has taught us anything, the Amsterdam Mohawks are a great team; the greatest the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League has ever seen.

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Great teams find ways to win games, even when the situation is far from ideal. And if history has taught us anything, the Amsterdam Mohawks are a great team; the greatest the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League has ever seen.

On a rain-soaked Friday night at Shuttleworth Park, staring down an 8-0 deficit after three-and-half innings and with a depleted pitching staff, the Mohawks miraculously came back to defeat the Elmira Pioneers in game two of the PGCBL championship series, 9-8. Rob Rispoli played hero with a walk-off sacrifice fly, earning the organization's third straight league championship, and 10th title since 2009.

"This is really special with these guys," said head coach Keith Griffin. "These guys overcome a lot of adversity. We lost seven different players for different reasons throughout the course of the year. We had a very short pitching staff. Most of our position players stayed; we lost...three of 'em. Those who stayed were champions."

Of Amsterdam's 13 all-time league championships, Griffin has been at the helm of 10. This is also his eighth PGCBL title; the league has only been around since 2011.

"[It's] great for Amsterdam; best fans in baseball," said Griffin. "10 championships, 15 years...it's been a blast."

Rispoli had been hitless in four at-bats on the night. The UConn shortstop headed to the plate in the bottom of the ninth in a dream scenario: with the bases loaded, nobody out and a chance to claim his team a championship.

With Colonie's Tyler Figueroa positioned at third, Rispoli lifted a high fly ball out to shallow right field. Elmira's Andy Schroeder made the catch and a strong throw home that was right on-line. But the speedy Figueroa just beat the tag of Pioneers catcher Bennett Shealor on a head-first slide, scoring the game-winning run.

"It's just exciting, man," said Rispoli. "Took a lot of time and effort to do this. Down 8-1 in the [fourth] inning, we were like, "We're not losing. We're not playing another game tomorrow." And we came back, took our time; did what we had to do."

The Pioneers wasted no time putting the pressure on, scoring in the top of the first inning on an RBI double from Schroeder. They tacked on another run in the third when Eddie Kaufman scored on a wild pitch. Elmira then erupted for a six-run fourth inning to put Amsterdam in a daunting, 8-0 hole.

But the Mohawks just chipped away. They found life in the home half of the fourth when Figueroa drove in Evan Haeger with a single to left for their first run of the night.

The rally continued in the fifth. Haeger legged out an infield single that allowed Javar Williams to come in and score from third base. Cade Ladehoff followed that up with a screaming single through the left side of the infield, which plated Jackson Natili, bringing the 'Hawks within five runs at 8-3.

Things really heated up in the sixth frame. Following a one-out double from Aiden Stewart, Steven Spalitta and Rispoli both walked, loading the bases for Williams, who sent a fly ball out to center that brought in Stewart.

Natili then worked a base on balls, re-loading the bags for Haeger. After an Elmira pitching change, Haeger was hit by a pitch, forcing in a run to draw Amsterdam within three. That gave way to Ladehoff, who watched four wide ones. He took first base; Rispoli took the trot home, and it was an 8-6 ballgame.

The table was set for pinch-hitter Jake Sparks - a Hoosick Falls graduate - who replaced Jimmy Dionne. Sparks skied a 2-2 delivery out to left field, and Elmira's Aidan Stern was camped under it for what appeared to be an easy third out. But Stern whiffed on the ball, allowing Natili and Haeger to come in for the game-tying runs.

The Mohawks bullpen, meanwhile, was stellar. Duanesburg native Peyton Fall got out of a seventh-inning jam to keep the score deadlocked at eight. He tossed three scoreless frames, allowing just one hit, one walk and striking out six.

Fall handed the ball over to Amsterdam's very own Manny Santos. The Pioneers put runners on first and third with nobody out, but the Albany Academy grad recorded back-to-back punch-outs, getting out the inning unscathed. He'd then toss a 1-2-3 top of the ninth, which set up the Mohawks offense for some late-game fireworks.

Amsterdam continued to do what had gotten them back into the game: show patience at the plate, go station-to-station and capitalize on Elmira's miscues. Figueroa reached base to start the inning on a throwing error from Pioneers third baseman Evan Blanchard. Stewart followed that up with a single and Spalitta was hit by a pitch. That brought up Rispoli, who promptly sent the Mohawk faithful, who had stuck around for this over four-hour contest, into a frenzy.

Rispoli's teammates ran out to second base to meet him, and a massive dogpile ensued - a picture-perfect scene to end another brilliant summer of baseball in Amsterdam.

Santos earned the win for the Mohawks. Ladehoff was named MVP of the championship series. He went 1-4 with a home run in game one, and 2-4 with two runs batted in in game two.

Amsterdam posted a 35-7 record in the regular season, and was a perfect 4-0 in the playoffs.