Playing against each other for the second time in three days, the top two teams in the West Division scored twice as many runs as their first meeting, but the result remained the same. With four runs in the fourth and three in the fifth, the first place Valley Blue Sox won their second consecutive game over the second-place Danbury Westerners 8-6 at Mackenzie Stadium.
The Westerners slip below .500 for the first time this summer to 4-5 with the loss, their third in three road contests. Now ahead of every team by at least two games in the division standings, Valley improves to 6-3 and has won four in a row.
Both teams went down in order across a quick first two innings, but unlike Friday’s contest, Danbury struck first in the top of the third. William Gale denied Billy Gerlott an extra-base hit to begin the frame, but Drew Wyers broke Thomas Ballard’s perfect start with a four-pitch walk. Wyers got some company on the basepaths when Javon Hernandez walked on five pitches, and Brant Baughcum gave the Westerners the early advantage with a two-run double to right centerfield.
Down two instead of three thanks to Gale’s diving catch in centerfield, the Blue Sox swiftly responded by halving the deficit on three straight singles. Matthew Garcia’s RBI base knock put runners on the corners with one down, but Daniel Labrador made a juggling catch behind home plate and Matthew Bergevin grounded into a fielder’s choice to mitigate Valley’s hopes of taking the lead.
Still ahead by one, Danbury wasted no time regaining their two-run lead in the top of the fourth as Labrador hit a leadoff single and Joey Skarad walked to put two runners aboard for the second straight frame. Gerlott almost flew out for the second time in as many innings, but that flyball turned into an RBI single when the outfielder could not find the ball. The Westerners had runners on the corners with one away, but only scored the lone run as the Sacred Heart designated hitter got thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice and Gerlott got tagged out in a caught stealing situation at third base.
Even with EJ Kreutzmann caught stealing by Danbury starter Andrew Castelluccio, the Blue Sox bats carried their offensive momentum into the fourth. Michael Zarillo doubled on the ensuing pitch to put a runner back on the basepaths, and after Gale got hit by a pitch, Zach Ketterman ripped an RBI single to trim the Westerners’ lead back down to one. Manager Conor Farrell turned to Carson Ballard after Jeff Pierantoni singled to tie the game, and although the Georgia Tech righty struck out Efrain Correa Jr. looking, Valley jumped ahead. Garcia loaded the bases again with a full-count walk, and AJ Guerrero hit a go-ahead two-run single that trickled past the right side of the infield for the 5-3 Blue Sox advantage.
With Danbury trailing and Graham Jefferies relieving T. Ballard, Hernandez made it a one-run game by himself without recording a hit in the fifth. Hernandez walked for the second time in three plate appearances, but his best work on the basepaths came with Bobby Zmarzlak at the dish with two away. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Hernandez swiped second as the Maryland senior took a pitch for a ball and then stole third on the very next pitch as Zmarzlak swung and missed. When the pitch after that bounced over Correa’s glove, the Danbury native dashed to home plate.
Jakobi Davis began the seventh with a five-pitch walk, stealing second with Hernandez up to bat, and even though Baughcum grounded into a double play, another passed ball allowed Danbury to make it a three-run game. Luke Boynton led off the eighth with a double to the right field fence, but another double play and a flyout left him stranded in scoring position.
The Westerners made one last push in the ninth as Hernandez singled and stole second, but unlike Friday evening’s contest, Danbury brought that runner home when Baughcum singled for his third RBI of the game. Pinch-hitter Harrison Feinberg represented the Westerners as the tying run at the plate with two away, and although it looked like he got all of a 2-1 pitch, Guerrero made the catch near the left field warning track to finish the Sunday matinee.
Despite exiting with the game tied, Castelluccio took the loss in his first Hat City start and appearance after allowing five runs in 3.1 innings. George Viebrock III added three more shutout innings and four more strikeouts to his totals in his second relief appearance of the season. Jefferies got credited with the win on his very first day as a Valley player despite surrendering the unearned run in the fifth, while Michael Weidinger collected his second save in three appearances.
Danbury concludes their four-game road trip at Muzzy Field with their third match versus the Bristol Blues (4-5) on June 19. The Westerners have won the first two meetings against the Blues, both of which were one-run decisions at the Roadhouse at Rogers Park, heading into Monday’s contest. Jordan Falco takes the bump for the first time since his 5.1-inning performance against the Newport Gulls on June 13, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m.
The rest of the Danbury Westerners’ 2023 schedule can be found on their website.