By Matt Kotfila

A four-run first inning was the catalyst for a dominant Blue Sox win on Saturday, as they handily defeated the visiting Martha’s Vineyard Sharks.

After an error by Vineyard’s Harley Goodner opened the scoring, Valley piled on three more runs. The runs scored on a Gavin Schrader single, a Mike Lucarelli double and a Cade Carr sacrifice fly. 

“It allowed us to be confident,” said Head Coach Endy Morales of the four run surge. “We had lost to them already this week, they’re a really good team, so to come out and punch them first, it just set the tone for the rest of the game.”

Michael O’Conor added the other two Valley runs on a home run that soared into the Valley bullpen. Sebastian Mexico contributed a two hit performance, and Michael Elko came across home plate twice as a base runner. 

Valley threw eight pitchers in the contest, striking out 11 Vineyard batters. Andrew Wertz came in for the ninth inning, when he struck out two batters to earn the save.

Gio Colasante started the game for Vineyard, allowing four hits and four runs across two innings of work. He was credited with the loss.

The Blue Sox improve to an overall record of 10-8 on the season, while the Sharks fall to 12-7. The win snaps a two game losing skid for Valley.

“I thought that was a good one to get. It could have very easily been three losses in a row,” said Morales. “Now we get to go into the off day with a win, and a really tough stretch coming up next week. I thought that was a great day to approach the off day and beat a team that’s super competitive.”

Valley will get a day off tomorrow before they host the Danbury Westerners on Monday, June 30. The game is set to begin at 6:35 p.m. at MacKenzie Stadium in Holyoke, Massachusetts.