Eighth-inning surge lifts the Blue Sox past Ocean State

By Kate Endres 

HOLYOKE— Through four innings on the Valley Blue Sox’s Hall of Fame Night on Saturday, the difference between the Blue Sox and the Ocean State Waves was largely on the mound. Ocean State (0–3) used a pair of walks and a hit by pitch to spark a four-run fourth inning and take a 5–1 lead. Valley (1–0–1) answered in the eighth, scoring four runs with help from an error, two hit by pitches, a walk and a wild pitch, to complete a 6–5 comeback in the ninth at Mackenzie Stadium.

The full nine innings offered an early-season snapshot of the realities of summer baseball. Pitchers and hitters alike are adjusting to new roles, players have to click with new teammates almost immediately and it is the first competitive action many have seen in weeks.

For the Blue Sox, the turning point began after starter Jackson Hinchliffe navigated five innings despite running into trouble in the middle frames. After retiring six of the first seven batters he faced, Hinchliffe allowed five runs across the third and fourth innings, accompanied by two walks and a hit by pitch.

Rather than making an early move, Valley allowed the right-hander to finish out five innings and throw a total of 75 pitches. The decision proved significant as Gregory Bruno, Maddex LaBuda and Jake LeFrancois combined for four scoreless innings out of the bullpen, limiting Ocean State to one hit and walk while keeping the deficit at four runs.

“We kept it there," Blue Sox head coach John Raiola said. "Bruno, LaBuda and LeFrancois came in and kept it at five runs, giving us a chance."

That chance came for Valley in the eighth.

Ocean State reliever Max Marchetti entered after Sawyer Deering delivered four scoreless innings in relief. Marchetti pitched just 0.1 innings for Northeastern this spring and did not appear during the previous two seasons while redshirting.

Valley’s rally began without a hit. Scott Donahue reached on a throwing error by shortstop Justin Hackett before Anthony Tirado was hit by a pitch, leaving two ducks sitting on the pond with no outs.

After both runners advanced, Anthony Grabau drove in the Blue Sox’s second run of the game with an RBI groundout. Trevor Harmon followed with a single to center field that cut the deficit to 5-3.

Ocean State's command troubles continued from there. Eddison Esquivel was hit by a pitch, and Chris Carson worked a walk to load the bases. Brett Rogers then brought home another run with a groundout before a wild pitch allowed Trevor Harmon to score from third and Esquivel to score from second, tying the game at 5-5.

By the time the Waves’ Andrew Jacobs entered to relieve Marchetti and record the final out of the inning, Valley had sent eight batters to the plate and scored four runs on just one hit.

“When you have traffic on the bases late in the game, it just creates some pressure," Raiola said.

The sequence continued an uneven opening week for Ocean State’s pitching staff. The Waves entered Saturday having issued 13 walks in a 20–1 loss to Danbury on Friday, and they also allowed runs to score on wild pitches in Thursday’s game against Bristol.

Raiola said both teams are still adjusting to the unique circumstances of summer baseball.

“All of our guys are in unfamiliar spaces [and] so are they," Raiola said. "You see some guys pitching in spots or playing positions that they don't normally play a lot at school."

The Blue Sox completed the comeback in the ninth when Nico Soul singled, advanced on an error and scored on Tirado's RBI single to secure the 6-5 victory.

Valley hits the road to face the Upper Valley Night Hawks at Maxfield Sports Complex on Sunday. First pitch is set for 5 p.m., and the game can be streamed on ESPN+.