Holyoke, MA- It was a divisional battle Friday night as the North Adams SteepleCats traveled to Mackenzie Stadium to play the Valley Blue Sox. North Adams went into the game still looking for their first divisional win of the 2022 season.

The Cats got the offense moving early against Valley starter Kevin Haynes (Sacramento State). Hunter Pasqualini (Central Connecticut State) led off with a single to left. Ryan Galanie (Wofford) reached on an error that placed runners first and second.

A wild pitch brought in Pasqualini, and after Kyle Hannon (Penn State) walked, the Cats had runners at the corners with one out. Hannon promptly swiped second. Valley's catcher Damaurys Rodriguez (Bryant) threw the ball into center field, and North Adams took a 2-0 lead in the first.

In the bottom of the frame, Cole Zaffiro (UPenn) retired the Blue Sox in order. Zaffiro did the same in the second but ran into some trouble in the third.

The Cats tacked on a run in the top half of the inning on a Ryan Galanie solo shot to left-center field. The Blue Sox showed some fight in their half of the inning as DH Chase Hanson (Hope International) walloped a triple off the wall to start the frame. 

He eventually came around to score on Steve Luttazi's (UMASS) RBI single. So, at the end of three, the Cats were up 2-0.

In the fourth, Cedric Rose (UMASS-Lowell) reached on an error, and Ryan Galanie walked. Up stepped Kyle Hannon with two on and two outs. The shortstop roped a double into left-center, which brought both runners home. 

Valley got a run back in the bottom of the inning. The two teams were held scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings as the Cats led 5-2 heading into the seventh.

Now facing Damon Wesley (Western New England), Cesar Franco (Chipola) started the inning with a single. Scott Jones (Butler) walked, and Hunter Pasqualini singled both runners in. The SteepleCats drove in four runs with two outs on the night, which is something the team struggled with all season.

Pitcher Nate Beal (UPenn) entered the game in the fifth inning and pitched two scoreless before loading the bases with one out. Left-hander Will Hearn (San Francisco) came in and worked out of the jam, only allowing one run. 

After seven full, the Cats led 7-3. It seemed like the game was out of reach, but in fact, the contest was far from over.

In the top of the eighth, Ryan Galanie walked to begin the inning. He ultimately came around to score on a wild pitch giving North Adams an 8-3 lead. 

The bottom half of the frame brought even more drama. Chase Hanson, who had already tripled in the game, crushed a towering two-run home run deep to right, bringing the Cats' advantage to three.

The SteepleCats went quietly in the ninth, and Valley was determined to make the game interesting. With two outs and runners on first and second, the man of the hour, Chase Hanson, once again came to the dish.

Hanson represented the tying run. Gerry Peacock (Notre Dame) came in to close for North Adams, and after a long battle between the two, Peacock struck out Hanson to end the game and got the SteepleCats their first divisional win on the 2022 season. 

The story of this game cannot be complete without mentioning second baseman Vincent Bianchina (Northwestern). He made two perhaps game-saving catches on line drives with multiple runners in scoring position. North Adams most likely does not come away with the victory without him.

The Cats are back at it tonight as the Mystic Schooners come to town. The lights at Joe Wolfe field are back in working order. The game will start at the usual 6:30 p.m. Kale Sophy (Shippensburg) will take the mound for the SteepleCats, and Charlie McDaniel (Presbyterian) will do the same for the Schooners. 

You can stream tonight's game through this link: https://necblnetwork.com/?B=395009.