By: David Azer

The Valley Blue Sox are the 2023 NECBL West Division Champions. In their final game of the regular season, the Blue Sox defeated the Keene Swamp Bats 8-7, to finish 23-18-2 on the season. 

In a game that saw 23 hits and four different position players on the mound, the Blue Sox scored runs in four different innings. 

Brendan Yagesh started the game for the Blue Sox, pitching two innings while allowing four runs with three strikeouts. 

Keene got on the board first in the top of the second inning, following three RBI singles and a wild pitch to put the Swamp Bats up 4-0 early.

Valley rallied back to quickly take the lead back in the bottom of the second inning, batting around their entire lineup. Conor Kiely hit an RBI single to score EJ Kreutzmann in his first at-bat of the season. Zach Ketterman hit an RBI single to score Michael Zarrillo.

Will Gale walked with the bases loaded, AJ Guerrero hit an RBI single, then EJ Kreutzmann was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, to allow the Blue Sox to take the lead 5-4.

Kurt Thomas took over for Yagesh in the top of the third, pitching two innings while allowing one run. 

Keene tied the game at five after Bryan Padillia was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Valley took the lead back in the bottom of the fourth after Michael Zarrillo walked with the bases loaded to put the team ahead 6-5.

Third Baseman Zach Ketterman made his first appearance on the mound this season, taking over for Thomas in the top of the fifth inning. The right-hander pitched two innings with three strikeouts, allowing one run. 

The Swamp Bats tied the game at six following an RBI single in the top of the fifth, but Valley quickly took the lead back in the bottom of the inning after Guerrero hit an RBI groundout. 

Center Fielder Will Gale also made his first appearance on the mound this season, taking over for Ketterman in the top of the seventh inning. The speedy outfielder pitched one inning, allowing one run and striking out one batter. 

The Swamp Bats tied the game at seven in the top of the seventh inning after an RBI single.

CJ Willis, a position player who has made four different appearances on the mound this season, once again saw himself on the mound after relieving Gale in the top of the eighth inning. Willis pitched two scoreless innings to earn himself his second win of the season. 

The Blue Sox took the lead in the bottom of the eighth after 2023 All-Star EJ Kreutzmann hit an RBI single to score Collier Cranford. 

Willis pitched a clean ninth inning to secure the victory and division title for the Blue Sox.

With the NECBL Playoffs beginning Monday night, the Blue Sox will remain at home to host their division rival Bristol Blues in the first game of a three game series. First pitched is scheduled for 6:35 P.M.