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By: Mehrob Fatemi 

In a stalemate 1-1 game filled with good pitching and in/outfield play, the fifth man in the lineup for the Upper Valley Nighthawks Chris Baillargeon walks up to the plate where he’d be 0-3 so far on the night. On a 2-2 count, Conor Wolf stares down Baillargeon and delivers a fastball down the middle that Baillargeon crushes into left. The Blue Sox watched with all the hard work they’d done throughout the game hanging in the balance on one hit, as it soared past the infield and to the back wall. However, left-fielder Jack Basseer had other plans for the Blue Sox as he rose up to make a fantastic grab at the wall to give the Blue Sox the second out of the inning, and eventually giving the Nighthawks another scoreless inning. 

This game remained 1-1 through nine innings, forcing an exhilarating 10th inning. On an added note, the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) does not play traditional extra innings as the MLB does. With a runner on second base at the start of each half, both teams have opportunities to score with this extra advantage. 

    With Logan Hugo on third base after he stole a base in the top of 10th, Michael Toth hits a sacrifice single as Hugo runs home. After a late throw home from the pitcher, Hugo is ruled safe and the stalemate from the second inning is finally broken. Shortly after, Justin Butler hit a massive double as well, bringing both Frankie Ferrentino and Michael Toth home to increase the lead to 4-1, sealing the win for the Blue Sox.

“I just dug in my normal approach that I have,” Butler said. “It's been working out for me but surely out tonight, so happy to happen and glad the Sox gotta win for sure.” 

To recap the win, Gregory Shaw started on the mound for the Blue Sox, pitching over four innings with four strikeouts and only giving up one earned run off three hits.  

    Upper Valley did not go down without a fight either, with Joseph Purcell starting the game on the mound. Purcell also only gave up one earned run off three hits in three innings. It was a solid game for the senior out of Slippery Rock University, but in the end the Blue Sox took this game from the Nighthawks through their brick wall of a defense in the in/outfield. 

“It was a very gritty game and you got to tip our cap to the pitching staff of the Nighthawks and even their hitters, too,” Butler said. “I mean, they swung it well and they pitched so well. So it was just that we had to score more than them, and luckily we came out on top tonight.” 

    The next game for the Blue Sox will be Wednesday night back at Mackenzie Stadium against the North Adams Steeplecats, with first pitch shortly after 6:35 p.m. EDT on ESPN+ as well as the NECBL network.