Blue Sox Topple Latin All-Stars, 8-6
June 5, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Valley Blue Sox News Release
HOLYOKE, MA - On a beautiful Wednesday evening at Mackenzie Stadium, the Holyoke Blue Sox earned a hard-fought 8-6 win over the Latino All-Stars in what head coach Darryl Morhardt called an "evaluation game."
"We wanted to see what guys could do," the bench boss for the Blue Sox said.
It was the All-Stars who struck first in the second inning, taking advantage of a throwing error in right field to plate a pair of runs, but in the home half, Holyoke came right back to tie the game, with catcher Joel Fisher lifting a single to left that brought in both Blue Sox baserunners.
In the fifth, the home team took their first lead of the night, with infielder Karl Kapines singling and advancing on a balk and then scoring on a base hit to center by designated hitter Michael Ahmed.
Then, in the sixth, the Blue Sox broke the game wide open, tallying five times to take an 8-2 lead, with first baseman Justin Morhardt walking with the bases loaded and then second baseman Jacob Cronenworth and Ahmed hitting back to back singles to bring in four more.
The Sox would need those runs as the Latino All-Stars made one final push, scoring four in the sixth, but it was not enough, as Holyoke would hold on.
On the mound, starter Nick Kennedy went the distance for the home team, fanning seven and allowing nine hits and six runs, four earned. Morhardt was pleased with his emergency starter, saying, "he pitched seven strong innings."
Asked after the game if the team had passed the evaluation, the head coach gave a little laugh, and simply said, "Yes."
Holyoke begins the regular season on Thursday with a road game at the Sanford Mainers before returning to Mackenzie Stadium for Friday's home opener against the Ocean State Waves, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:35 PM.
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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 5, 2013
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