Dutchmen make quarterfinal on home run from Rathwell to beat Saratoga, 2-1

The Enterprise — Jordan J. Michael

Brandon Rathwell high-fives his Guilderland head coach, Doug LaValley, after hitting a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to break a 1-to-1 tie against Saratoga on the road during the first-round Class AA play-in game on Tuesday. The Dutch won, 2 to 1, and Rathwell drove in Guilderland’s previous run with a single in the second inning. Guilderland plays at top-seeded Shenendehowa today in the quarterfinals.

The Enterprise — Jordan J. Michael

Staring at the incoming pitch is Guilderland batter Corey Moore during the fifth inning of Tuesday’s Class AA play-in game at Saratoga. The Dutch, the ninth seed, upset Saratoga, the eighth seed, 2 to 1. Nick Bruno pitched six solid innings for Guilderland, and Matt Pierce got the Blue Streaks to strike out, pop out, and ground out in the bottom of the seventh inning to close the game.

The Enterprise — Jordan J. Michael

Yay! Guilderland baseball players congratulate Brandon Rathwell (#45) after he hit the game-winning solo home run in the seventh inning of the Class AA first-round game at Saratoga on Tuesday. The Dutch won, 2 to 1, and face Shenendehowa today in the quarterfinals.