HOLYOKE – The Valley Blue Sox had great offensive success in their 14-11 victory over the Sanford Mainers.
Valley (16-19) had the bats going early, thanks to shortstop Michael Elko and right fielder Isaac Wachsmann. However, Sanford (18-18) started the offensive explosion first.
In the top of the first, Mainers’ Zack Kent singled up the middle to score Domenico Tozzi. Peter Keblinsky scored an earned run on an E-2 by Hayden Perry, and Kent scored unearned. Sanford had a dominant top of the second inning, scoring four more insurance runs thanks to wild pitches and an error by the Blue Sox.
Valley found their footing at the bottom of the inning. It started with Wyatt Hunt being hit by a pitch, which was followed by Andrew Loikits’ double. An E6 error occurred, which allowed Hunt to score and Loikits to advance to third.
Kai Cunningham then singled into center field, scoring Loikits. Cunningham found his way down to second base on a nice steal and was then driven in to score off of a single by Chris Carson. It was now 7-3 at the end of two innings.
Sanford acquired two runners on first and second before Sam Miller nuked a three-run home run shot into left field to make it 10-3 heading into the bottom of the third.
Just when it looked like the Blue Sox were going to be crushed by the Mainers, Valley had an incredible offensive explosion. Wachsmann crushed a homer into left field to start the scoring frenzy. Nicholas Spaventa and Hunt walked, and then Loikits reached first base on an E-1, which allowed Spaventa to score, making it 10-5.
Cunningham hit a sacrifice ground out to score Hunt and advance Loikits. Hayden Perry walked to reach first. Carson drove a ball into left center to score Loikits and advance Perry to third. Then Michael Elko came to the plate. Elko ripped a triple into right field, scoring Perry, Carson, and himself on an E-4 to tie the game at 10-10.
Wachsmann came up to bat for the second time that inning and crushed a homer into the same exact spot as before to give Valley their first lead of the night, 11-10, to end the inning.
Wachsmann was hyped about his home runs.
“There was not a lot going through my head [during the home runs], he said. ”I was just trying to put together good at-bats and help the team get back into the game.
“I worked a lot with our hitting coach [Charlie Ludwick], we were in the cage for like an hour and a half, just working through some stuff. I found a couple of things I really liked and took that over to the game, and now for sure, I am going to keep working on those things.”
Valley’s manager Endy Morales was impressed with Wachsmann’s performance.
“He’s a super talented guy, and when pitchers make mistakes and when facing really good hitters, you make them pay,” he said. “That’s just the name of the game right there.”
Wachsmann has accumulated a batting average of .240 during his time with the Blue Sox, picking up six hits in seven games. The Creighton outfielder and first baseman has also stolen two bases for Valley.
Wachsmann is a later addition to the team, making his debut a week ago on July 12.
“It’s been great,” Wachsmann said. “Obviously, I hadn’t had any at-bats since the spring, and it’s still early, so I’m still kind of getting my feet under me.
“But it’s been super fun. We got a great group of guys, the coaches and the guys have made it really easy to make a smooth transition, and they got a lot of confidence in me. Just allowing me to play free, and play like myself and experiment, has been a blast so far.”
More scoring occurred at the bottom of the fourth. Hunt tripled, which was then followed by Lokits walking and stealing second. Cunningham then walked to load the bases. Perry’s sacrifice ground out scored Hunt and advanced Loikits to third.
Carson walked, and then Elko slapped a double off the center field wall to drive in Loikits and Carson. The Blue Sox were now up 14-10.
Sanford was ultimately not able to catch up to Valley’s explosive offensive momentum as the game ended 14-11 in favor of the Blue Sox.
Morales was hyped about the win.
“Absolutely incredible [game],” he said. “I told the [team] in the second inning this game was going to be a dog fight, and they responded.”
The Blue Sox have quite a bit of time off due to the upcoming 2025 New England Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game. Valley travels to Bristol to take on the Blues on Wednesday, July 23. at 6:30 p.m. in search of another victory.
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