Blue Sox and Stars Split

May. 31, 2009

The Blue Sox topped a tough Catawba Valley Stars squad in the opener on Sunday, 6-1. Led by great pitching performances by Drew Elkins (Bridgewater) and Rich Glover (Lynchburg), and complemented by a solid hitting attack, the Blue Sox answered the Stars run in the top of the first with two in the bottom and never looked back. Graham Thacker (Roanoke) and Mike Crowder (Tusculum) had two hits and two RBI apiece to lead the attack while Tyler Coleman (Virginia Intermont) added two hits and David Gaines (Lynchburg) added a triple. Elkins earned the win to go 1-0 on the season.

It took one extra frame, but the Stars won the night cap 5-4. Catawba Valley scored one in the top of the sixth to go ahead in the game 3-2 and the Blue Sox answered in the bottom of the frame with two of their own to go ahead 4-3 on a 2 RBI single by Thacker. The Stars answered back in the top of the seventh to tie it 4-4 and then scored in the first extra frame to make the final 5-4. The Blue Sox started the scoring on a 2 RBI single by Crowder in the first inning scoring Gaines and Ryan Litz (Lynchburg), both of whom had drawn walks. DJ Turpin (Patrick Henry) started the game for the Blue Sox but left after 2 2/3 when he fell victim to 3 unearned runs. Matt Morgan (Lynchburg) then came in to pitch 4 1/3 solid innings giving up one run on 3 hits and recording 5 strikeouts. Eric Conley (Tusculum) took the loss as he gave up a run in the top of the eighth. The Blue Sox were only able to come up with four singles during the game, but took advantage of 13 walks by the Stars pitchers.