HOLYOKE, MA—The Valley Blue Sox bats broke out of their slump with a pair of three spots in the middle frames as they downed the Vermont Mountaineers 6-2 in front of 703 fans at Mackenzie Stadium tonight.
The Blue Sox are now 3-2 on the year, moving into a tie for first in the North Division with the idle Sanford Mainers.
Vermont jumped out to an early lead, taking advantage of a leadoff single, error, sacrifice, and groundout to work in a run before the Blue Sox had even picked up their bats.
Despite working deep in the count and getting runners on, the Blue Sox struggled early; signs of the slump abounded in the first three frames as they left two on in the first and then in the second a hot-shot liner with the bases loaded was snared on a dive to steal away at least two runs.
However, the pendulum of momentum finally swung in Valley’s favor in the fourth, as left fielder Storm Wilson beat out a bunt, stole second, and reached third on a wild pitch before catcher Justin Morhardt blooped a single to left to plate Wilson. Designated hitter Joseph Carcone singled, and after they were sacrificed over, shortstop Angelo La Bruna ripped a double to right to bring both Morhardt and Carcone in to give Valley the 3-1 lead.
The Blue Sox added to the lead in the sixth, as Wilson and Carcone both singled, and with Wilson on third, second baseman Michael Korte hit a slow roller to short that allowed Wilson to come home. La Bruna drove Carcone home with a single to right, and after center fielder Bobby Stahel also singled, third baseman Frank Crinella drove a ball to center to bring La Bruna in for the third run of the inning and sixth of the game.
Meanwhile, starter Zach Strecker was efficient in cutting down Mountaineer hitters, allowing just the one run on three hits in seven frames, fanning five, walking none, and throwing just 69 pitches in the process. He handed the ball over to Joe DiBenedetto and then Mike McGee for the eighth and ninth, respectively, and though the Mountaineers did add one in the ninth, they could not come back.
Valley will make the short trek to Keene tomorrow for the first of six meetings with the defending league champion Swamp Bats before returning again to the friendly confines of Mackenzie Stadium to battle the North Adams SteepleCats on Star Wars Night at Mackenzie Stadium. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for the contest, with the first 250 youth in attendance being given lightsabers, and a special guest appearance by Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader.
The 2014 season will represent the Blue Sox seventh season in the Pioneer Valley, playing at Mackenzie Stadium in Holyoke. The Blue Sox have been a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL; www.necbl.com) since 2008. The NECBL is funded in part by Major League Baseball and is comprised of 12 teams throughout all six New England states who recruit the elite athletes and premier pro prospects from around the world.