NEW BEDFORD, MA—The Valley Blue Sox scored three in the first and never looked back, cruising to an 11-5 win over the New Bedford Bay Sox at Paul Walsh Field on June 14 for their third straight win and fifth in the first seven games.
Valley sits at 5-2 on the season after the victory, alone in first in the North Division.
Though the first two batters popped out, the Blue Sox were patient, as third baseman Frank Crinella and first baseman Trey Sikes each walked. Catcher Josh Graham drove Crinella in with a single before center fielder Kevin Barker stroked a triple to left to bring Sikes and Graham home.
In the fourth, second baseman Michael Korte walked, and then, with two down, right fielder Bobby Stahel took a 1-0 pitch and drove it over the 370 marker in center field for his first home run of the year to make it 5-0 Blue Sox.
The following inning, the Blue Sox offense went off again, as Sikes led off the frame with a double, then pinch hitter/catcher Todd Ezold rolled one under the glove of the second baseman, followed by a two-run single by shortstop Garrett Black to bring them both in. Black then took third on an error on a pickoff attempt and was promptly brought home by Sikes, who singled to center. The Blue Sox then took advantage of a throwing error by the shortstop as Black and left fielder Mendez Elder, who had singled in his at-bat, both scored to make it 10-0.
The Bay Sox threatened in the bottom of the fifth with a one-out double, but Michael Korte was able to make a great play at second to save the run to end the inning.
Valley added to the lead in the sixth as Todd Ezold hit a solo shot to left field, his first of the year.
The Bay Sox finally broke through in the eighth, taking advantage of a walk, hit batsman, and single before a grand slam home run to center off the bat of Brad Johnson, but Kyle Rasmussen came in and picked up back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat.
The Bay Sox scored in the ninth to make it 11-5, but could not complete the comeback as they dropped their fifth straight to start the season.
Valley is back in action tomorrow at the Ocean State Waves in the final of three straight games away from Mackenzie Stadium; they return home Wednesday, June 18 against the Mystic Schooners. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for the 6:35 p.m. contest, and it is minibat night, with the first 500 youth in attendance to be given a Blue Sox minibat.