Sox Blast Brigade, Head to Keene for Western Division Semifinals
August 3, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Valley Blue Sox News Release
HOLYOKE, MA - An offensive eruption in the second sent the Holyoke Blue Sox to a 7-1 victory over the visiting Saratoga Brigade in a play-in game for the fourth and final spot in the NECBL's Western Division Playoffs, guaranteeing the Blue Sox a home playoff game on Monday night.
The Blue Sox loaded the bases with one out before right fielder Dillon Hamlin hit an infield single off the glove of Saratoga's shortstop to bring in the first run; left fielder Jason Lombardozzi followed that with an RBI single of his own, and then second baseman Joseph Carcone hit into an RBI fielder's choice. Shortstop Matt Reida brought in the fourth run on an error, then third baseman Brendan Hendriks and first baseman Sal Annunziata hit back-to-back RBI singles to give Holyoke a 6-0 lead.
In the fourth, Holyoke would add another run on a sacrifice fly, as Lombardozzi reached on an error before advancing on a single by Reida and scoring on a Hendriks sacrifice fly.
Saratoga would score one in the ninth off of pitcher Adam Rutz, but never truly threatened in the game; they had just seven position players who were healthy and so had to have starting pitcher Jonah Philley bat leadoff and pitcher Jake Steffens started at first; Philley went two-for-four on the day.
Philley took the loss, allowing seven runs (two earned) on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts in five innings of work; Holyoke's Henry Van Zant was the winner, throwing six shutout innings of five hit ball with two strikeouts and no walks. Van Zant has a 3-0 record this season against the Brigade, allowing no runs in 22 innings of work.
Holyoke will now advance to the Western Division Semifinals against the Keene Swamp Bats; Game 1 is at Keene Sunday, while Game 2 is at home on Monday night at Mackenzie Stadium at 6:30 PM, with the gates opening at 5:30 PM; Game 3, if necessary, would be at Keene Tuesday.
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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from August 3, 2013
- Sox Blast Brigade, Head to Keene for Western Division Semifinals - Valley Blue Sox
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