LACONIA, NH—The Valley Blue Sox left eight men on base, including leaving them loaded in the fifth, as the Laconia Muskrats earned a shutout win, 2-0, at Robbie Mills Park in a make-up game from earlier in the season on July 21.
Valley falls to 10-22 on the campaign.
The Blue Sox struggled to get hits off of Muskrats starter Shea Spitzbarth, who for the second time was strong; Valley only had one hit until the fifth, when they got first and third with no outs after singles by Angelo La Bruna and Justin Hazard, only to see back-to-back strikeouts. Bobby Zarubin drew a walk, but the next batter rolled over to short to end the threat.
That would prove disastrous as the Muskrats were able to get hits with men in scoring position the very next half inning, as Matt Byrne doubled to bring in a pair of Muskrats.
That was all the offense for either team. Laconia had no hits after that frame as pitcher Dan Starwalt struck out four in three frames of relief, while the Blue Sox had first and second with one out in the ninth as La Bruna and Hazard put up back-to-back hits again, but failed to bring them in.
The Blue Sox return to action tomorrow, July 22, against the Keene Swamp Bats. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for the 6:35 p.m. first pitch.