It took extra innings on Saturday for the Valley Blue Sox to suffer their first loss of the 2025 NECBL season.
The Blue Sox committed three errors, with many proving costly. Back to back throwing errors by Valley pitcher Andrew Wertz in the 10th inning scored one runner and put another at third. This allowed for Nav’s Brody Dalton to bring in the eventual winning run on a sacrifice fly RBI.
The Blue Sox moved to 2-1 on the season, while the Navigators earned their first win of the season. Their record stands at 1-3.
“The ones that kind of stick out are pitchers taking care of their position and fielding their position, that’s why we do [pitchers fielding practice],” said manager Endy Morales of areas he looks to improve on.
“But ultimately, it’s hard to replicate the nerves you get in a game. When you see the ball coming to you, and you’re slowing your arm down because you were just throwing 95, it’s a tough thing.”
What started as a stormy day in Holyoke turned into an ideal setting for baseball. The skies cleared just in time for a delayed 7 p.m. first pitch, on a night in which the Blue Sox celebrated Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame Night.
Valley’s Tyler Bak continued his hot streak, going 3-3 on the night with an RBI and maintaining his 1.000 season batting average. Mike Lucarelli went 2-4 with an RBI, and Michael Elko picked up a hit, walk and RBI in four at bats.
For North Shore, Sam Parks went 2-2. Dalton picked up the lone RBI for the Navigators, as the other three runs came off errors.
The Blue Sox threw five pitchers, racking up 13 strikeouts. Andrew Wertz was given the loss. North Shore’s Ryan Griffin earned the win, and Cole Yennaco earned the save.
The Blue Sox will continue their 2025 campaign tomorrow afternoon when they welcome the Ocean State Waves to MacKenzie Stadium, and Coach Morales looks to continue to build the atmosphere of the place his team calls home.
“One thing I’ve challenged them to do is to protect the Mack. I want this to be a tough place to win, so I’m really hoping that they show up with that energy. It doesn’t have to be jumping off the walls in the dugout. I just want them ready to compete and to get back in the win column,” he said.
