HOLYOKE – The top four teams in each division earn a spot in the NECBL playoffs, and that fact was likely at the forefront of the Mystic Schooners and Valley Blue Sox’s minds heading into Saturday’s contest.
Just a half a game apart in the standings before first pitch, the Blue Sox (18-21) and Schooners (19-21) battled with significant playoff implications on the line.
The winner of the game secured the fourth-place spot in the NECBL’s South Division and a playoff position with just four games remaining in the season.
Thanks to five first-inning runs and steady pitching on the mound, the Schooners were able to handle business and win one of their most important games this season.
The early rally started with two Mystic runs off a Jack Harley single. Three more Schooner scores came in the following inning thanks to David Mendez and Eric Cha singles, as well as a Valley error.
Mystic added two more insurance runs the following inning from an AJ Aschettino walk and Jack Harley double play.
The Blue Sox bats were quiet, only collecting six hits. Isaac Wachsmann blasted a home run for his lone hit, and Tim Ford grabbed an RBI single in the ninth.
Nick Spaventa, John LaFleur, Kai Cunningham, and Chris Carson added the other hits. 2025 NECBL All-Star Michael Elko contributed a sacrifice RBI on a hitless day.
“Not enough urgency, not enough execution, and not enough team baseball,” Blue Sox manager Endy Morales said.
The Schooners amassed 12 hits over their nine innings of work. Jake Kernodle and Eric Cha led the way, each with three-hit performances. Six other Mystic batters had a hit for themselves.
Emmanuel Nevills started his second game of the season for Valley and continued to struggle. The Amherst College sophomore allowed three hits and five runs in three innings, striking out one batter. Nevills was tagged with the loss.
Four Valley pitchers relieved Nevills. Brycen Diaz struck out three batters while allowing a run. Harper McLendon struck out a pair of Schooner batters and allowed a run.
Ethan Slowik and Andrew Jergins both dealt scoreless outings. In total, the Blue Sox bullpen group struck out a total of nine Mystic batters.
Mystic started AJ Rooks, who also has only appeared in one game this season. In 1.1 innings of work, Rooks allowed three runs. Robert Ogg relieved him and threw 2.2 scoreless innings.
Following Ogg was Sam Hutchinson, who allowed zero hits through three innings. Trevor Geddes threw a scoreless eighth, and Liam Chamberlain closed the game for the Schooners with a one-run ninth. Mystic struck out five Valley batters throughout Saturday’s game.
Mystic will overtake fourth place in the South Division and, for now, hold the final playoff spot on the southern side of the bracket.
With four games left in the regular season, Valley will need a rally to move back into postseason contention.
“Overall, just better team baseball,” said Morales of the central piece he’s looking for. “When we play team baseball, we are pretty freaking good, and we just didn’t do that tonight.”
Valley’s next chance to move closer to the postseason will come Sunday at 4:05 p.m., when they host the Bristol Blues.
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