Despite positive outcome, Blue Sox won’t reach postseason

HOLYOKE – Although Valley will not return to the playoffs after appearing last season, the Blue Sox culminated their 2025 campaign on a high note.

On a humid Wednesday evening in which they hosted the Upper Valley Nighthawks, the Blue Sox played one of their most important games yet with significant playoff implications – although their fate was ultimately out of their hands despite an impressive 23-1 win at home.

Movement in the out-of-town standings mathematically eliminated Valley from postseason contention late Wednesday night, but that did not stop the Sox from ending the season with one last offensive explosion.

“It definitely was the elephant in the room,” said Blue Sox manager Endy Morales on the playoff implications of Wednesday’s game. “But at the end of the day, it’s still the same game. You go into it with the same expectation to go out and compete.

“And today our goal was to put up a lot of runs, and that is exactly what we did.”

Valley outpaced the Nighthawks early, scoring 11 runs over the first three innings. Nicholas Spaventa opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a two-run double, and was brought home later in the inning on a Wyatt Hunt single.

A pair of singles from Isaac Wachsmann and Michael Elko scored two of the three Valley runs the following inning, with the third resulting from an Upper Valley error.

The outpouring of scoring didn’t end there for Valley, as five runs came across in the third inning. Spaventa, Elko, Chris Carson, and Kai Cunningham all brought in runs. The fifth run scored on another Nighthawk error.

These scores provided more than enough insurance for Valley, but the Blue Sox kept the bats going. They scored an additional 12 runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings en route to a 23-1 win.

The Blue Sox amassed 18 hits throughout Wednesday’s matchup. Kozar, an Amherstburg, Ontario native, enjoyed five hits and five RBI in six plate appearances. Carson added three hits and five RBI.

Elko, Wachsmann, Spaventa, and Hunt all had two-hit performances, bringing in nine total runs.

Andrew Ciaglo, a typical pitching option for the Blue Sox, picked up a hit and an RBI in just his second at-bat of the season.

The Nighthawks’ bats stayed relatively quiet throughout the evening. A total of four hits were highlighted by an Anthony Brotz double in the top of the fifth that scored Upper Valley’s lone run.

Andrew Basel started for the Blue Sox and threw three no-hit innings before allowing a run in the fourth. Jake Andrews, Beau Elson, and Andrew Wertz closed the game out, shutting down the Nighthawks.

For Upper Valley, Jack Ruditzky started and struggled. He gave up nine earned runs and 11 hits across 2.1 innings of work. The Nighthawks’ bullpen suffered a similar fate, allowing 12 more earned runs to close the game out.

Valley’s postseason hopes end tonight, but the memories from the season will carry on. Making the transition from player to coach, Morales looks back fondly on his inaugural season managing the Blue Sox.

“You start day one, and then you see the guys that stay here all summer and are taking in the full experience,” Morales said. “Doing an overnight trip in Newport and Cooperstown, just kind of seeing that come together, and then how quickly the guys who joined us a little bit later get acclimated to the team.”

“That’s always one of my favorite things, you know, there’s that saying, ‘boys will be boys,’” he continued. “There’s never any hesitation in their acceptance of each other. I think seeing the togetherness of these guys this summer was pretty cool.”

The Blue Sox are set to host a Game 44 matchup Thursday against the Danbury Westerners. This game will be played at 6:35 p.m., weather permitting. Check necbl.com or @valleybluesox on Instagram for updates.