Rain‑delayed triumph
The Utica Blue Sox overcame a mid‑game rain delay to pull away from Amsterdam’s Mohawks, securing a 10‑2 victory that crowned them East Division champions. Connor Jones and Kevin Francella provided the offensive fireworks, each launching a home run that shifted momentum in the second and fifth innings.
Wes Maskimow turned in a solid starter’s effort, limiting the Mohawks to a single run after they opened the scoring. In relief, Joey Kafka and Drake Aycock shut down the opposition, with Aycock striking out three of the five batters he faced, while Kafka closed out the game for the save.
The win was not just about the big bats; contributions from Anthony Perritano, Jack Sweeney and Robbie Carvelli added depth to the lineup, each collecting multiple hits. The Blue Sox also capitalized on a sixth‑inning rally that featured an error, a triple and a hit‑by‑pitch to extend their lead.
A date with destiny
With the championship now within reach, the Blue Sox will travel to Dwyer Stadium on Friday night to face the Batavia Muckdogs, the team that finished the regular season with the league’s best record at 29‑10‑1. Batavia arrives after a 6‑4 win over the Jamestown Tarp Skunks, and they will enjoy home‑field advantage, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
The stakes are heightened by the contrasting paths each team took to the final. While Utica fought through a third‑place finish in the East behind Amsterdam and Saugerties, they rallied to defeat both Saugerties’ Stallions and Amsterdam’s Mohawks in the playoffs. Batavia, by contrast, entered the tournament as the top seed and dispatched the Auburn Doubledays 12‑1 in their opener.
What’s at stake
The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League championship promises a clash of contrasting styles: Utica’s gritty, comeback‑driven approach against Batavia’s disciplined, top‑seed pedigree. Fans will be watching closely to see whether the Blue Sox can translate their playoff resilience into a championship‑winning performance on the storied field of Dwyer Stadium.