Valley Blue Sox expect best is yet to come this yearDate: 7/1/2022 HOLYOKE – With the passing of the summer solstice, the 2022 New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) season is upon baseball fans to enjoy, with the chance to check out the Valley Blue Sox at their home games at Mackenzie Stadium in Holyoke this summer.
As of press time, June 29, the Blue Sox stood at 11-9, in second place in the West Division in the NECBL, 3½ games behind the Bristol Blues with a full slate of games ahead in July. Heading into the start of a weekend slate on June 30, the team had won seven out of their last 10 games.
“After a slow 2-5 start to the season, this team has really turned it around. As of June 25, we had won five straight, including seven of our last eight, and now have one of the top records in the league,” General Manager Tyler Descheneaux said. “Even with the slow start, no one was worried about this team as we knew they would turn it around. There are still plenty of ballgames to be played, but things are definitely trending in the right direction. This is a resilient team that fights down to the last strike and has a lot of fun while doing so.”
The team’s June 27 win over the North Adams SteepleCats marked the debut of Antonio “A.J.” Guerrero (University of Washington) who came over from the Hyannis Harbor Hawks, a member of the esteemed Cape Cod Baseball League. Guerrero had a dandy of a game at the plate, going 3 for 5 with 6 RBI, and had the highlight of the game with a grand slam in the top of the fourth inning.
The Blue Sox are now in their 15th year of existence, starting out in Concord, NH (2001-2007), before moving to Holyoke in 2008. In 2022, according to Descheneaux, the league as a whole is recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.
“I believe that in years to come, the team, and league, will only become stronger. Attendance isn’t exactly where we would like it to be, but this is rather typical while looking at years past in the month of June. School is just getting out, the Springfield Thunderbirds put on one heck of a run going all the way to the Calder Cup Finals, and some of our bigger promotional nights are still ahead of us,” Descheneaux said. “July has a lot going on that the people of Western Mass. will not want to miss out on. Attendance is already increasing and I see that trend continuing.”
Coming up in July, the Blue Sox have a number of entertaining promotional nights for the fans turning out for a game.
“On July 7, we are holding First Responders Night, where all first responders will have free admission, and a ‘9 Innings of Winning’ where we will be holding a raffle at the end of every inning, in which a name will be announced for a new prize. We have received many donations from all around,” Descheneaux added. “There are giveaways we have coming up, too. On Saturday, July 16, the first 300 fans will receive a free water bottle with the Blue Sox and Holyoke Gas and Electric logos on it. On Saturday, July 23, we will also be giving away team pennants courtesy of Westfield Bank. Then on many days, we will be giving away our 2022 team picture and baseball cards.”
The Valley Blue Sox are also promoting local youth baseball clinics with instruction from Blue Sox players and coaches. The next clinic will be in Wilbraham at Spec Pond July 11 to 14. Go to www.wilbrahamrec.com to register. Each attendee will receive a pair of tickets to go to Blue Sox Clinic night at the team’s home game on July 27.
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