Blue Sox Dominate Keene in 6-0 Win
June 12, 2014 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Valley Blue Sox News Release
KEENE, NH- The Valley Blue Sox broke out the bats in the third inning, using a three-run shot by Trey Sikes as part of a five-run frame to beat the Keene Swamp Bats 6-0 on June 12 at Alumni Field.
Valley improves to 4-2 on the year, taking over sole possession of the North Division lead with the win.
Shortstop Garrett Black got the third inning started for the Blue Sox with a one-out single; he stole second, although the next hitter, designated hitter Angelo La Bruna, walked. Left fielder Bobby Stahel drove a 3-2 pitch into the outfield to score Black; La Bruna and Stahel advanced on the throw. Then, third baseman Frank Crinella hit a single to left to plate La Bruna.
That brought Trey Sikes to the dish, and he wasted no time, putting a charge into a hanging pitch and blasting it over the left field fence for the Blue Sox' first home run of the season.
Starter Nick Lewis cruised through his outing, fanning the side in the first and throwing seven innings of six-hit ball with eight strikeouts.
In the seventh, Keene threatened, getting back-to-back singles to lead off the frame. However, Crinella snagged a line-drive and turned it into a 5-4 double play that deflated the Swamp Bats, as the next batter struck out to end the frame.
The following half inning, Stahel singled and stole second, and then catcher Josh Graham drove a single to center field to bring him home for his first RBI with the Blue Sox to give the visiting team a 6-0 lead.
Harrison Paige came out to throw the bottom of the eighth, and thanks to more stellar defense by Crinella was able to work around a pair of bloop singles. He led off the ninth with a three-pitch strikeout, his second of the outing, and finished the game by fanning the last batter with a backdoor curve for a called third strike.
The Blue Sox return to Mackenzie Stadium Friday for a tilt with the North Adams SteepleCats on Star Wars Night. The gates open at 5:30 p.m., with the first 250 youth in attendance to be given a lightsaber, and a special appearance by 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.
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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 12, 2014
- Bats Silent in Loss to Valley - Keene Swamp Bats
- Blue Sox Dominate Keene in 6-0 Win - Valley Blue Sox
- Tonight's Game Is Postponed - Join Us Saturday - Danbury Westerners
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