MUCKDOGS MOVE ONTO WEST DIVISION FINALS

Batavia, NY - Pablo Sainz tossed five shutout innings as the Batavia Muckdogs beat the Auburn Doubledays 6-1 in the first round of the PGCBL playoffs. 

This is the third time in four years Batavia has reached the West Division Finals. 

Auburn threatened to score in the top of the first inning, putting runners on the corners with one out, but Sainz left the runners stranded. 

Doubleday starter Aidan Zerr and Sainz traded zeros through the first five innings, before Sainz was pulled for left-hander Gavin Chandler in the sixth inning. With one out, Auburn broke the scoreless tie on an RBI single from designated hitter Anthony DeCesare. 

Batavia responded in the bottom half of the frame. With a man on third and one out, first baseman Brayden Horton launched a sac fly into center field, tying the game up at one. Three batters later, extra hitter Cooper Fesh gave the Muckdogs the lead on an RBI double. Zerr was pulled after the run-scoring double. 

After Evin Hollandsworth tossed a scoreless seventh inning, Batavia added to their lead with a two-out rally in the bottom half of the frame. After reliever Eric Korzeniewski got two quick outs, an infield single, an error, and a walk loaded the bases for Brayden Horton, who legged out a single to bring home two more runs. Tyler Castrataro followed up with a two-RBI single to put Batavia up 6-1. 

Hollandsworth and Garrett Beaver combined to get the final six outs of the contest, securing a matchup between the Muckdogs and the Jamestown Tarp Skunks for the West Division crown tomorrow night. 

Horton, Castrataro, and Fesh combined for six of Batavia’s eight hits tonight and drove in all six runs. 

The Muckdogs return to the diamond tonight, as they take on the Jamestown Tarp Skunks at 6:30 PM at Dwyer Stadium. Tickets start as low as $12. To purchase tickets or to learn more information, please call (585) 524-2260 or visit our website at https://www.canusamuckdogs.com/.