Elia brilliant, but bats go silent as Blue Sox drop another

Date: 7/2/2014

SANFORD, Maine – The Valley Blue Sox wasted a brilliant performance by Anthony Elia as the Sanford Mainers walked off 1-0 in an NECBL North Division contest at Goodall Park in Sanford on June 30.

The Blue Sox end the month of June at 6-12, having lost 10 of their last 11.

Elia was nigh-unhittable, staying perfect through four. The Mainers had an apparent hit robbed in the fifth by an outstanding play at short by Angelo La Bruna before barely beating out a throw to leg out an infield single on the next at-bat.

Elia ended the game after 6.1 innings of one hit, two walks and three strikeouts. He sports a 2.34 ERA, allowing just seven runs – six earned – while striking out 22 in 23 innings of work spanning five appearances, including three starts.

The Blue Sox bats could not match Elia’s arm, however, as right fielder Bobby Stahel had both of Valley’s hits, striking a double to left in the first to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, but that was the only runner in scoring position all night.

In the eighth, the Mainers had two on and one out and hit a hot shot down the line, but third baseman and East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, native Frank Crinella snared it, tagged third, and threw to first for the out.

However, in the ninth, the Mainers had a man reach on a single, and then after a controversial play where the runner was called safe at second, the next Mainers batter doubled to left to end the game.

The Blue Sox return home July 4 against the Mainers on Buck Night, where hot dogs are $1, as are tickets for youth and seniors for the 6:35 p.m. start, with gates opening at 5:30 p.m.

For additional information about the Valley Blue Sox, visit www.valleybluesox.com.