White River Junction
One day after giving the Valley Blue Sox their first home win of the year with a walkoff line-drive in the 12th inning, Ostberg’s bloop single midway down left field line in the eighth scored Hezekiah Randolph for the go-ahead run in the Blue Sox’ 2-0 win at Maxfield Sports Complex.
It was the third straight loss and fourth in five games for the Nighthawks (4-5), who received 6 strong innings from starting pitcher Bill Maier, but slipped under .500 for the first time since losing their debut game at Vermont.
Maier gave up four hits, walked two and struck out two in a bona fide pitchers’ duel with Valley’s Mark Washington (six innings, no runs, four hits, three strikeouts, one walk). Upper Valley ended up using four relievers and the Blue Sox three.
Unlike Saturday’s heroics – when his screamer into centerfield set off a wild celebration in Holyoke, Mass., capping an 8-7 win over the Muskrats – Ostberg wasn’t even sure his game winning hit Sunday was fair when it landed. Coming against the Nighthawks’ second reliever, Brian Lau, it barely plunked onto the left-field chalk, allowing Randolph (one-out single) to trot home and make it 1-0.
“I was down 0-2, and I knew a curve ball was coming,” said Ostberg, a University of Hartford junior and Valley’s starting catcher. “I was just trying to battle through the at-bat, thought I might have fouled it off, but it was fair. I’d hit a line drive right to the shortstop (in the second inning), so I kind of feel like I deserved the hit.”
Added John Raiola, Valley’s second-year manager: “Erik is a great situational hitter and always puts together quality at-bats. Whatever we need in a given situation, he’s going to do his best to get the ball in play. Last night, it was a hard shot up the middle. Tonight, it was a (soft hit), but they all count the same. People don’t ask, ‘How hard?’ they ask ‘How many?’ ”
The Blue Sox (6-3) added an insurance run off lefty Mike Coss in the ninth. Cameron O’Neil led off drawing a four-pitch walk and – after Kyle Mottice failed to sacrifice him over with a pop out on a bunt attempt – O’Neil ended up at second anyway when Coss threw a wild pitch. No. 9 hitter Tyler Lyne then drove the first pitch he saw from Coss into left to make it 2-0.
Valley’s Sam Donko needed eight pitches to retire Upper Valley 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth.
Maier and Washington breezed through the early innings, Washington allowing just two base runners and no hits through four and Maier retiring the side in order four times. The Iona senior enjoyed solid defense, highlighted by a forward-lunging catch by centerfielder Walker Grisanti in third inning and catcher James Morisano’s pinpoint throw to second base to catch a runner stealing in the fourth.
Maier got out of a jam later in that same inning, inducing a first-pitch ground out to Chris Starcun and striking out O’Neil looking to leave Valley runners stranded on second and third.
“I was keeping my fastball down and was able to get some outs early in counts,” said Maier, who allowed no runs for the second straight start and finished with 92 pitches. “I was able to keep my pitch count low, but eventually got just a little tired. I felt like I was a little better my last time out (Thursday’s win at Winnipesaukee). It’s discouraging to lose, but we’ve got an off-day tomorrow and can hopefully recharge and start putting some wins together.”
Upper Valley had runners on the corners in the fifth and sixth innings, stranding Charlie Concannon (single) at third during the former and Grayson Podgett (single) there in the latter. Production was hard to come by against Lehigh’s Washington (1-0), who also allowed no runs for the second straight start. Relievers Anthony Romanelli (seventh), Tyler Smith (eighth) and Danko were also effective.
“They had some quality arms out there today,” said Nighthawks coach Nick Cenatiempo. “Offense was hard to come by for both teams, but we were able to get first-and-third situations a couple times and just couldn’t optimize.”
Cenatiempo sent in sidearm reliever Nick Jones with one out in the seventh. He needed just seven pitches to retire the side, but did not return to the mound in favor of Lau in the eighth. Lau struck out Valley’s leadoff hitter before allowing three straight singles to give the Blue Sox the lead.
“Did I think about leaving Nick out there? I did, but the more guys throw and the more opposing teams see them, the more they’re allowed to make adjustments. Sometimes, it’s best to let a guy face one or two batters. … If Lau goes out there and has a clean inning, I look like a genius.”
Extra Bases — Temperature at first pitch was 90 degrees. … The announced attendance of 561 was the Nighthawks’ highest through six games at Maxfield. … Upper Valley hasn’t yet homered at home. … New arrival Al Molina started at shortstop, one day after pinch hitting in his debut…. Alex Hanson was given the day off but pinch ran for Padgett (1-for-3) in the eighth. New arrivals Brian Mims (eighth) and Zack Canada (ninth) also pinch ran. … Raiola was issued a warning by home plate umpire Rich Gaitane for arguing balls and strikes in the eighth inning. … In the seventh, Cenatiempo argued to no avail a ruling that a line drive off of first base hit by Concannon was foul. … Grisanti was 0-for-4, making Upper Valley’s leadoff spot 2-for-21 in its last five games. … Trent Leimkuehler, who was hitting .417 before getting hurt while running to first base in a game last week, watched the game in street clothes. Cenatiempo is hopeful he can return by next week. … The Nighthawks begin a three-game road trip Tuesday at Keene, which is in first place in the NECBL’s Northern Division.
Jared Pendak can be reached at jpendak@vnews.com or 603-727-3225.