Holyoke, MA - The Valley Blue Sox hosted the Bristol Blues at Mackenzie Stadium in what was a great game for the Blue Sox. Valley got the bats going at the right to win 6-4 over Bristol. The offensive success can be attributed to left fielder Sebastian Mexico.
Mexico went two for four on the night, hitting a single, double to knock in four RBIs and was walked. He is fifth in the entire New England Collegiate Baseball League in batting average coming into tonight’s game with a .375 average and has two home runs on the season.
Head coach Endy Morales has been impressed with Mexico’s success at the plate. “He’s come into [this season] and spewed that confidence,” Morales said. “[Mexico’s offensive success] is infectious and exactly why he’s in the leadoff spot. We want him to get the most at bats in the lead off spot and it has been working for us.”
The first inning went by quickly with no runs scored for either team. The second inning was an offensive battle. In the top of the second, Blues’ designated hitter Gianno Merlonghi hit a single to get on base quickly and was able to score later on thanks to third baseman Trevor Hansen reaching first base on a throwing error made by Valley’s shortstop Kai Cunningham. Bristol’s right fielder Nate Lincoln had himself a nice single to get on base earlier on too. Second baseman Yeudy Ramirez grounded out to the shortstop, but was able to score Lincoln in for a run to make it 2-0. Bristol was able to muster another run thanks to Scott Gell’s RBI sac-fly to score Hansen to make it 3-0 to end the inning.
The bottom of the second inning was all Valley as they were able to get the bats going. Second baseman Andrew Loikits’ single drove in first baseman Michael Elko to score the Blue Sox’s first run of the night. Center fielder Chris Walsh hit a nice single to advance Loikits to third. Valley’s speedy center fielder stole second base with ease to leave runners on second and third. Mexico came to the plate, calm, cool and poised and hit a line drive double into the outfield to tie the game at three a piece.
Mexico showed up again in the bottom of the fourth, smacking a double into the outfield to drive in a run to give the Blue Sox a 4-3 lead. Valley had efficient at bats to load the bases up. Right fielder Clay Burdette has been dominating at the plate this season for the Blue Sox and hit a single to drive in one more run to extend the lead 5-3. Third baseman Mike O’Conor hit a sac-fly to the outfield to drive in one more run for Valley making it 6-3. That would be all the runs the Blue Sox scored in the bottom of the fourth.
Bristol did not give up easily as they drove in a run in the top of the fifth thanks to CJ Egrie’s bunt and speedy success around the bases. The Blues were able to score Egrie to make it 6-4 to end the inning.
After the top of the fifth no more runs were scored for either team as it was a defensive battle. O’Conor made several tough throws from third base to first to keep the Blues off the bags. Valley’s pitching to close out the game was successful thanks to Andrew Wertz closing the game and securing the victory for the Blue Sox.
Valley travels to take on the Vermont Mountaineers on Sunday, June 22 at 6:30 p.m. The Blue Sox have struggled on the road this season but Morales is keeping the team focused and locked in.
“Whichever [opposing starting pitcher] starts the game [for Vermont], I want to get them out early,” Morales said. “We are going to get off a three and a half hour bus ride and the challenge right away is going to be get the starter out early.”