Blue Sox Fall 4-3 to Waves
July 15, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Valley Blue Sox News Release
HOLYOKE, MA-In a game that featured missed opportunities and mistakes by both sides, the Ocean State Waves snuck out of Mackenzie Stadium with a 4-3 victory against the Holyoke Blue Sox in front of 844 fans.
The Waves threatened early on, loading the bases with no outs in the first frame. However, Holyoke starter Dan Patrick pulled a Houdini, picking up a strikeout and then a 1-2-3 double play ball to escape the frame unscathed. Holyoke then took advantage of a leadoff error that allowed shortstop Matt Reida to reach; Reida then stole second and was advanced to third on a bunt by center fielder Jacob Bruce, before scoring when first baseman Sal Annunziata hit a grounder to short.
The lead lasted until the fourth when Ocean State erupted for three runs; a leadoff double was followed by a sacrifice to move the runner to third; the DH, Nick Sebastian, singled to bring him in. After a flyout and another single, first baseman Matt Burgess doubled to bring both runners home. Holyoke did get a run back in the home half of the frame, as DH Joel Fisher, third baseman Michael Burke, and catcher Justin Morhardt all singled, with the last bringing the first in from third.
In the seventh, Ocean State would score what turned into the winning run, as second baseman Reed Gamache singled and eventually scored on center fielder Mike Gerber's single.
Holyoke scored in the eighth, as Fisher hit a sacrifice fly to plate right fielder Vahn Bozoian. At that point, the Sox had second baseman Brendan Hendriks on second with one out. After a flyout, Burke came to the dish and drove a 1-0 pitch to center. Hendriks tried to score, but an outstanding throw by Gerber just beat him to the plate, ending the threat; the Blue Sox could not score in the ninth off of closer Oliver Powers, leaving Bruce at second to end the game.
Patrick suffered the loss, despite six strong innings of ball in which he allowed three runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts; earning the win was Connor Kelly, who allowed just one hit in three innings of relief, without surrendering a walk and just one strikeout. Powers picked up the save with one hitless inning with a walk and a strikeout.
Holyoke next returns to action Wednesday when they host division-leading Vermont at Mackenzie Stadium; game time is 6:35 PM, with the gates opening at 5:30 PM.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 15, 2013
- Blue Sox Fall 4-3 to Waves - Valley Blue Sox
- Keene Does It All On Monday Night, Sweeps Double Header Against Saratoga - Keene Swamp Bats
- NECBL Announces 2013 All-Stars - NECBL
- Blue Sox to honor Marc Fucarile on July 18th game at Mackenzie Stadium - Valley Blue Sox
- Six Blue Sox Make NECBL All-Star Squad - Valley Blue Sox
- Blue Sox Face Waves for Final Time in 2013 Regular Season - Valley Blue Sox
- SteepleCats Weekly - North Adams SteepleCats
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