05/29/2026
DiamondDawgs Open 2026 Campaign with 3-2 Victory Over Albany Athletics
LITTLE FALLS, NY — The Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs kicked off the 2026 season in winning fashion Thursday night, defeating the Albany Athletics 3-2 in a seven-inning exhibition contest at Veterans Memorial Park.
After a ten-month wait between games, the DiamondDawgs wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. In the bottom of the first inning, Bryon Arias (Dominican University) delivered the club’s first run of the season, driving a ball into the right-center field gap to score Erick Diaz (Dominican University) from second base and give Mohawk Valley an early 1-0 lead.
The DiamondDawgs extended their advantage in the third inning. Brodie Feker (George Washington University) jumped on the first pitch he saw and lined an RBI single to the outfield, bringing home Arias. Feker later crossed the plate on a successful double steal, increasing the lead to 3-0.
Albany battled back in the later innings. Chase Morrison (Hudson Valley Community College) delivered an RBI single in the fifth inning to score Ryan Reagan (Adirondack Community College), putting the Athletics on the board. Albany added another run in the sixth when Ty Kimbler (Eastern Connecticut State University) drove in a run with a groundout, trimming the deficit to 3-2.
The Athletics threatened again in the seventh, but DiamondDawgs reliever Matt Alegria (Felician University) worked out of a first-and-second situation by inducing a game-ending double play to secure the save and preserve the victory.
Matt Prestnopik earned the win on the mound for Mohawk Valley, while Carl Mays (Russell Sage College) was charged with the loss for Albany.
With the exhibition victory in hand, the DiamondDawgs now turn their attention to the regular season opener. Mohawk Valley officially begins its 2026 campaign Friday night when it hosts the Boonville Lumberjacks at Veterans Memorial Park.
First Pitch: Friday Night
Location: Veterans Memorial Park, Little Falls, NY
