HOLYOKE, MA—Center fielder Mendez Elder came up in the tenth with the bases loaded and hit a ball deep into the outfield to score catcher Bobby Stahel for the winning run as the Valley Blue Sox snapped a six-game losing streak by beating the Newport Gulls 4-3.
Valley improves to 6-8 on the year, third in the North Division.
In the second inning, the Blue Sox opened the scoring, as third baseman Frank Crinella singled, and then shortstop Garrett Black walked. Right fielder Kevin Barker then came to the dish and the first at-bat of his birthday was worth a run as he singled to left.
However, the Gulls scored in the fifth on a hit batter, wild pitch, single, and sacrifice, and the following frame gained a lead as a single and two errors plated a run.
The duo of Crinella and Black both singled again in the home half of the sixth, and after Elder sacrifice bunted, Barker drove in two more with a hot-shot single that hopped over the shortstop to make it 3-2.
The Gulls again tied it the next half-inning, as two singles bookended an error to make it 3-3.
Valley had a chance to take the lead in the eighth with a man on third and one out, but could not bring him home. Neither team did much in the ninth, and then the Gulls got second and third with two outs but a fly to the track in right ended the threat.
That set the stage for the heroics. Stahel and Crinella both singled, with Crinella laying down a perfect bunt; Black attempted to bunt them over and a bad throw by the pitcher loaded the bases. The Gulls brought their center fielder to the infield to try to protect from a ground ball, but Elder swung at the first pitch and drove it into right field, far enough for Stahel to score and send the Blue Sox to celebration mode.
Valley will take three days off to rest before returning home on Thursday, June 26 against the Plymouth Pilgrims. It will be Latino Heritage Night at Mackenzie Stadium, and the first 250 fans will also receive Thunderstix.