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Blue Sox split Watertown doubleheader and record fifth walk-off victory

July 21, 2018 - Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL)
Utica Blue Sox News Release


The Blue Sox went 1-1 in the Watertown Rapids doubleheader tonight. Utica and Watertown both have a 21-19 record off of the split, and they are still tied for second in the PGCBL Central.

The Blue Sox got off to a rocky start in game one losing to the Rapids 6-1.

The Rapids got out in front in the top first. Rapids' centerfielder Julian Kurych led the inning off with a single. He later stole second and third and scored the Rapids' first run of the game off of a wild pitch. Kenny Bergmann and Alex Mumme walked, and then Nick Bosma singled to bring Bergmann home and give the Rapids a 2-0 lead. Ben Maycock singled to bring Alex Mumme home (Wat. 3-0), and Rapids' right fielder Bailey Lewis also singled to bring Bosma and Maycock home and give Watertown a 5-0 lead.

Utica put up one run in the bottom third when right fielder Khalyd Cox's doubled and later put Utica on the board 5-1 off of Luis DeLeon's single.

Watertown scored one more run in the top seventh when Rapids' shortstop William Heurtin advanced to first off of the fielder's choice, stole second, and scored off of Bergmann's double.

The Rapids had a five-run lead and held onto it in the bottom seventh to get the game one victory and move up to second in the PGCBL Central.

Watertown's starting pitcher Addison Pawelek got the win in game one as he struck out nine, walked one, gave up five hits, and only allowed one run to score in seven innings of work.

The Blue Sox's starting pitcher John Kasper got the loss. He struck out two, walked three, and gave up eight hits.

But Utica got their revenge over the Rapids in game two beating them 2-1.

Utica took the lead in the bottom second. Brenton Phillips, Coco Hussien, and Patrick Bordewick singled to load the bases. Then Blue Sox's centerfielder Cameron Phelts singled to bring Phillips home and give Utica the 1-0 advantage.

But Watertown tied the game 1-1 in the top third when the Rapids' third baseman Trevor Kuncl hit the solo leadoff homerun.

After three-and-a-half scoreless innings, Utica finally struck at the right time (bottom seventh). Cox advanced to first base off of the intentional walk and moved up to second off of the fielders' choice from DeLeon. With two outs in the inning, Cox and DeLeon moved up one base off of the wild pitch. Then the Blue Sox's designated hitter Isaiah Torres recorded a single to bring Cox home and give Utica their fifth walk-off victory of the season (2-1), which ties the amount of walk-offs they recorded in the 2016 season, the year where they made it all the way up to the PGCBL Championship Series.

Torres was not the only Blue Sox's player who played a big role in game two, as Utica's starting pitcher Troy Naab struck out 10 batters, walked none, gave up four hits, and only allowed one run to score in seven innings of play. Naab was credited with the win.

The Blue Sox will travel to Adirondack tomorrow. Then they will be back home Monday to once again play the Watertown Rapids. Monday's game is scheduled to start at 6:35 p.m.

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