By: Brennan McGrevy

Holyoke, MA - The Valley Blue Sox were the away team for the first game in the doubleheader at Mackenzie Stadium against the Ocean State Waves. Valley’s third baseman Wyatt Hunt had himself an incredible day at the plate. Hunt went four for four with three singles, a double, two runs scored and one RBI. Blue Sox’s Bryan Matuschat relief pitcher led the team in strikeouts with three in two innings pitched. 

This game did not disappoint as scoring started early on for the Waves (14-15) in the top of the second. Waves’ Gavin Greger hit a single and stole second. Coen Niclai’s single advanced Greger to third. Niclai seized his opportunity and stole second base quickly. Kayle Pisano ripped a sac-fly to center field, scoring Greger and advancing Niclai to third. Ocean State’s second baseman, Jack LaRose knocked a single to score Niclai to make it 2-0 after two innings. 

Valley found their footing in the top of the third. Hunt doubled into left field off of the diving catch attempt by left fielder Kolton Reynolds. Hunt stole third on a wild pickoff attempt by Ocean State starting pitcher Rhys Bowie. Nicholas Spaventa cracked a single right up the middle, scoring Hunt to cut the lead to one. 

The Blue Sox found more momentum in top of the fifth thanks to Hunt's single and steal that was followed up by Michael Elko’s line drive ball to left field that scored the speedster Hunt to tie the game at two apiece before the inning ended. 

The Waves punched back in the bottom of the inning. With two outs and no runners on base, Brandon DeGoti demolished a triple into right field to put a runner into scoring position. Ryan Gerety then doubled off the right field wall and scored DeGoti to make it 3-2. Reynolds followed suit with a single into the outfield to score Gerety to extend the lead even further. Greger doubled into right field, advancing Reynolds to third. Niclai singled to score Reynolds but Gerety got out at home due to an incredible throw by right fielder Rees Kozar for out No.3. The score was now 5-2. 

Valley’s Mike Lucarelli walked to start the top of the sixth. Lucarelli stole second, third and home on a wild throw by Waves’ catcher Brandyn Durand. Andrew Loikits singled into left field. Sean Darnell crushed the ball deep into left for a double to advance Loikits to third. Gavin Schrader came into the game to pinch hit for Hayden Perry. He hit a sac-fly to center field, scoring Loikits to make it 5-4. Hunt came back up to the plate and hit a clutch single to score Darnell. The game was now tied 5-5. 

In doubleheaders in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, games are only seven innings with the exception of two extra innings. No runs were scored until the bottom of the ninth inning. Ocean State and Valley were on the cusp of having the first tie in the NECBL this season. 

Justin Hackett started as the ghost runner for the Waves. LaRose hit a sac-bunt to advance Hackett to third. Ocean State was 90 feet away from scoring the game winning run. Greg Pettay has been out since June 26 due to a knee injury and ripped a game winning single to score Hackett to walk it off in style against the Blue Sox. 

Game two of the double header got canceled due to rain against the Ocean State Waves, but the Blue Sox were up 2-0 before it got canceled. 

Valley travels to North Adams to take on the SteepleCats at 6:30 p.m. in search of a bounce back win.