HOLYOKE – Wednesday night’s showdown between the Valley Blue Sox (6-5) and Martha’s Vineyard Sharks (2-8) was wacky.
An early storm prior to the game pushed the first pitch to start this game past 9 p.m., especially in the sweltering heat. This made the game that much more exhausting, and it was desperately needed for a worthy show from the home team, the Blue Sox.
The Valley Blue Sox, feeling the pressure, responded as a united team. David Case led the charge on the mound, pitching five innings with a season-high eleven strikeouts to lead them to an eventual 5-1 win.
Case’s impact was felt throughout the team, as Andrew Wertz and Will Newell over the last four innings gave up a combined one run, with one hit, and five strikeouts to secure the game.
Of course, there is also the other side of the game that also played in favor of the Blue Sox: hitting. The Blue Sox outhit the Sharks 7-1 in this game and applied most of their damage off starting pitcher Brandon Oliveira.
Oliveira pitched over four innings, giving up two runs off four hits. He also had seven strikeouts, but the Blue Sox knocked in two runs in the second inning and never looked back.
Though it genuinely wasn’t the Blue Sox’s best game of the season, they bounced back in a big way after their two-game skid on the road, especially their last match, where they got shut out by the Sanford Mainers.
The Blue Sox continue to improve their pitching, making it a staple of winning games and allowing their hitting to come along. It has also improved, but improvement is much needed if the team is to succeed in the playoffs in August.
The Valley Blue Sox are eagerly anticipating their next challenge on Friday night when they travel to face the North Adams Steeplecats. The Blue Sox currently hold a 1-0 lead in their season series against the Steeplecats, and they are determined to maintain that winning streak.
With the first pitch scheduled at Wolfe Field shortly after 6:35 p.m., this game can also be streamed on the NECBL Network – adding to the excitement and engagement of the fans.
