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Blue Sox Now on Playoff Radar following 9-3 Win over Watertown

July 23, 2018 - Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL)
Utica Blue Sox News Release


After beating the Rapids 9-3 tonight, the Utica Blue Sox (23-19) are now up a game-and-a-half over Watertown (21-20) in the Central Division and final playoff spot. The Blue Sox are also a game-and-a-half behind the division's leader, the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs.

Utica took a 2-0 lead in the bottom first. Blue Sox's right fielder Khalyd Cox led the inning off with a single. Third baseman Luis DeLeon moved up to first off of an error from the Rapids' right fielder Bailey Lewis. Cox moved up to second off of the error and then advanced to third off of a wild pitch. Isaiah Torres singled to bring Cox home and give Utica a 1-0 lead. DeLeon advanced to third off of Torres' singled and later scored the Blue Sox's second run of the game off of Patrick Bordewick's sacrifice groundout.

The Blue Sox put up one more run in the bottom third. DeLeon and Torres singled. Bordewick also singled to bring DeLeon home and give Utica a 3-0 lead.

Watertown got on the board in the top fourth. Rapids' second baseman William Heurtin and catcher Kenny Bergmann walked. Heurtin then stole third and scored off of an error from the Blue Sox's second baseman Coco Hussien. The Rapids only trailed by two 3-1 heading out of the top fourth.

The Rapids tied the game 3-3 in the top sixth. Watertown first baseman Nolan Wilson advanced to first off of DeLeon's error. Heurtin singled to bring Wilson home (UTI: 3-2). Heurtin then scored the Rapids game-tying run off of Bergmann's double.

But Utica retook the lead in the bottom sixth. Hussien walked and then the Blue Sox's first baseman Neiko Ramos hit the ball out of the park for the two-run homer (UTI: 5-3).

Utica scored four more runs in the bottom eighth. Blue Sox's leftfielder Brenton Phillips recorded the lead-off single. He later advanced to second off of Ramos' single. DJ Staszak replaced Ramos as the pinch runner. Blue Sox's catcher Sam Punzi doubled, which brought Phillips and Staszak home and gave Utica an 7-3 lead. Cameron Phelts walked, and then Punzi and Phelts both scored off of Cox's double.

Utica led it 9-3 heading out of the eighth, and they recorded the 1-2-3 inning in the bottom ninth to secure the victory.

The Blue Sox's starting pitcher Ryan Christopher was credited with the win after recording three strikeouts, three walks, and giving up four hits in six innings of play.

Cox, Torres, and Ramos all got two hits for Utica while Cox, Ramos, Bordewick each recorded two RBIs.

Watertown pitcher Nick Cowen got the loss. He walked one, gave up one hit, and allowed two runs to score in 1.1 innings of work.

Utica's home finale is tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. against the Oneonta Outlaw. Then the Blue Sox close the 2018 regular season with a five game road trip.

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