Pitcher's no-hit bid broken up in ninth inning

Watertown was already a long shot to make the New York Collegiate Baseball League playoffs.

After falling victim to a near no-hitter in a 9-0 loss to the Amsterdam Mohawks on Thursday at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds, its chances look even slimmer.

Dan Zlotnick, a left-hander from Marist College, cruised through eight hitless innings for Amsterdam (24-12). His no-hit bid was spoiled with one out in the ninth inning when Ben Kincaid slapped a single to shallow center field.

According to Zlotnick, who finished with six strikeouts in 81/3 innings, it wouldn't have been his first no-hitter.

"I threw a seven-inning one in high school," Zlotnick said. "But I've never gone this long into a game without giving up a hit."

Zlotnick's head coach, Keith Griffin, was to the point when asked about the young lefty's performance.

"He was awesome," Griffin said. "He was just great."

Zlotnick admitted that the potential no-hitter was weighing on his mind. And a very lengthy top-half of the ninth inning gave him plenty of time to sit and think about it. The Mohawks went through 10 batters in the frame, piling up five runs on three hits and four walks. The Wizards (14-22) also changed pitchers in the inning, which just added to the angst for Zlotnick.

"It was tough waiting but you're never going to complain about run support," Zlotnick joked. "But that didn't have anything to do with it, I just threw a bad changeup and he smacked it."

Wizards head coach Jason Shone expressed the frustration of being on the wrong end of a one-hit shutout.

"It's tough, but you just have to tip your hat to the guy," Shone said. "He pitched a great game, I mean it is tough to take but it's part of the game."

Wizards starter Ryan Farrar put together a solid outing in his own right. He gave up four runs and scattered six hits through eight innings, making three excellent defensive plays in the process. He got two outs in the ninth but was pulled after walking three consecutive batters.

"It's frustrating as a pitcher, especially when you get through five or six innings," Farrar said. "But at the same time you know these things are going to happen, your guys are trying to get a hit, you just can't get upset about it."

As unlikely as a playoff berth seems, the Wizards are still alive. They sit five games out of the final playoff spot with six games remaining. They have to leap frog the fifth-place Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs, who come to Watertown for a doubleheader at 5 p.m. today and again for the regular-season finale on Wednesday. The Wizards also have to catch either Glens Falls, which they play on Sunday (away) and Monday (home), or Cooperstown.

Shone, whose team has lost four straight, still feels they have a fighting chance.

"Obviously, it's been a tough streak," Shone said. "But I think if we can keep our positive attitudes about it then we got a shot."