Blue Sox suffer 10-0 loss to Gulls

By Mary Merensky

HOLYOKE – The Valley Blue Sox (7-5-1) were unable to score a run against the Newport Gulls (7-7-1) on Saturday night, suffering a 10-0 loss. This was the second meeting of the season for these two teams, tying their first game 2-2 on Opening Day.

To start the ballgame, the Blue Sox went down 5-0 immediately, after a rough inning from Kaden Kimble in his first start of the summer. Gus Gandy and Devan Zirwas hit back-to-back singles, and Brandon Larson was walked, loading the bases for Newport.

The Gulls' first two tallies came from Kimble consecutively walking Ryan Novak and Ryan Jaros, which forced in the runs that put Newport up 2-0. With the bases still loaded, Braxton Tramel singled to left field and sent Novak and Larson home to extend the lead to 4-0.

Newport’s fifth and final run of the first inning was the result of Adam Broski hitting a RBI single to right field. The Blue Sox going down 5-0 so early on completely knocked the wind out of them as they remained hitless until the bottom of the eighth inning.

In the top of the second, the Gulls had the bases loaded once again after Cade Brown and Novak were walked, and Jaros singled. The sixth run for Newport was scored on a fielder’s choice play that stemmed from a Cole Johnson at-bat.

The Gull’s offense continued to pile on Valley in the fifth as they scored five more runs, solidifying their win long before the final inning. Gandy and Zirwas quickly found themselves on base due to Gandy hitting a double and Zirwas getting walked.

Newport’s runners were able to steal second and third base, but an error from the Blue Sox allowed Gandy and Zirwas to advance, adding another run for the Gulls. Cade Brown then hit a single that sent Zirwas home, increasing the gap to 8-0. 

The Gulls continued their hitting by getting two doubles in a row, one from Larson and the other from Novak, which allowed Cade Brown to score the ninth run of the game for Newport. 

Ryan Jaros got the RBI single that had Novak scoring Newport’s tenth run, slamming the door on any hope of a Valley comeback in just five innings of play.

While it was a poor showing from the Blue Sox, the team will look to regroup on the road as they take on the Sanford Mainers on Sunday, June 21. The game is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.