Blue Sox Drop Matchup at Mountaineers, 5-4
Published on June 27, 2013 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Valley Blue Sox News Release
MONTPEILER, VT - In a game that almost did not happen due to inclement weather, the Holyoke Blue Sox battled but fell in a back-and-forth affair, 5-4, to the West Division-leading Vermont Mountaineers at Recreation Park in the capital of the Green Mountain State.
The Mountaineers struck first in the home half of the leadoff frame, stringing together three two-out singles to score the contest's first run. The Sox answered right back however, as designated hitter Vahn Bozoian walked and then advanced on a wild pitch and then a passed ball, and was then driven in by a groundout by first baseman Brendan Hendriks.
The home squad regained the lead in the bottom of the second, this time scoring twice, after taking advantage of a one-out error at first base that allowed a runner to reach. From there they added two more singles, with a sacrifice fly in between, to take a 3-1 lead.
However, catcher Spencer Brann and center fielder Jacob Bruce would both smash doubles in the top of the third, with the latter driving in the former, to cut the lead to 3-2.
After that, both Blue Sox starter Jordan Kutzer and Mountaineers starter Trey Oest settled in, matching each other with scoreless innings until the sixth.
The sixth saw the Blue Sox take the lead in one of the most unusual innings yet this season. It began with Bruce dropping a bunt down the first base line that caught the Vermont defense off guard for a hit, and then back-to-back hard hit singles for Bozoian and Hendriks, the latter of which brought Bruce home. After a walk loaded the bases and a suicide squeeze failed, catcher Spencer Brann came up to the dish with two down. He swung and missed at a 2-2 pitch, but Mountaineers catcher Zach Soria could not control the ball, and lost sight of it, allowing every runner to advance and giving Holyoke the 4-3 advantage.
However, the Mountaineers would come back to retake the lead, first tying the game in the seventh with a single and stolen base by designated hitter Mike Vigliarolo and then a single by third baseman Kenny Towns, and then taking the lead when the Blue Sox committed an error with a runner on second and two outs in the eighth.
Holyoke had a chance in the ninth, with the bases loaded and two outs, but Bozoian was robbed of a hit by a diving Bret Dennis at second, who was able to knock a hard hit ball down and fire to first to end te game.
Kutzer, making his first start of the year, tossed 5.2 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits and one walk with four strikeouts; Oest went 5.1 innings with four runs (three earned) allowed on seven hits and two walks while fanning five. Mountaineers reliever Robert Strader earned the win thanks to 3.1 innings of no-hit two walk relief with four strikeouts, and Zach Grossfield picked up the save with 0.1 innings, a walk, and two hits. The Blue Sox pitcher of record was Ben Rakus, who fell to 3-1 on the year after allowing an unearned run on two hits in one inning pitched.
The Sox start a three-game homestand against the Laconia Muskrats on Thursday, followed by the Keene Swamp Bats Friday and the Plymouth Pilgrims on Saturday. Jordan Hillyer will start in the game against the Muskrats, with all three contests set for 6:35 PM starts at Mackenzie Stadium and special promotions planned for all nights.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 27, 2013
- Swamp Bats Outdone by New Bedford - Keene Swamp Bats
- Zarrillo's Walk-Off Sends SteepleCats to 4-3, 12-Inning Victory over Danbury - North Adams SteepleCats
- Rain Halts Mainers Chance at a Comeback, June 27 - Sanford Mainers
- Mainers Defeat Danbury in Extras, June 26 - Sanford Mainers
- Blue Sox Drop Matchup at Mountaineers, 5-4 - Valley Blue Sox
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