By Tommy Mumau – June 7, 2019

UTICA NY, — The Utica Blue Sox began their highly anticipated 2019 season last week, and didn’t disappoint. The team lead by first year head coach Doug Delett, finished their first week of play with a 3-1 record. Utica received impact performances from Tyler Simon, Luis DeLeon, Mike Bovenzi, Michael McCully and Dalton O’Boyle, on their way to their first three wins of the year. The Sox have already generated excitement among fans, and have given them a reason to come out to Murnane Field in 2019.

Friday 5/31/19: Utica Blue Sox @ Oneonta Outlaws – W 6-4

The Blue Sox opened their highly anticipated 2019 season with a road victory against the Oneonta Outlaws. The Sox displayed their resilience in their opening contest, coming back from a 3-0 deficit to win 6-4.

First year head coach Doug Delett tabbed Mike Bovenzi as the Opening Night starter, along with leading off the highly touted shortstop Tyler Simon. After both starting pitchers traded zeros in the first inning, Oneonta plated their first run of the season on a passed ball in the bottom of the second . The Sox threatened in the top of the third, with runners on first and second and only one out, for the power-hitting Luis DeLeon. DeLeon displayed his bat speed by hitting a line drive, however it was right to the Oneonta shortstop who turned an inning-ending double play.

After giving up a run in the second, Mike Bovenzi settled down, and was able to bounce back with a scoreless third. However in the bottom of the fourth, Bovenzi along with reliever Michael McCully got into some trouble, giving up two runs to extend Oneonta’s lead to 3-0.

With Oneonta appearing to gain momentum heading into the fifth, the Blue Sox began to get their offense rolling. With two men on, shortstop Tyler Simon crushed a three-run  home run over the left field wall to tie the ballgame. The Sox didn’t stop there, as Robbie Young scored on a wild pitch to give Utica a 4-3 lead. The Sox tacked onto their lead in the top of the sixth, as LJ Bryant scored on an Oneonta throwing error, advancing the score to 5-3 Utica.

Meanwhile, Michael McCully ptched four scoreless innings in relief for Utica, who was then replaced by Casey Keller. Keller came on to pitch a scoreless inning of his own in his season debut, to send the game to the ninth.

Robbie Young provided an insurance run for the Sox with an RBI groundout that brought home Tyler Simon, extending Utica’s lead to 6-3. The Outlaws began to rally in the bottom half of the ninth, plating a run to make it 6-4. The Sox were able to bear down, and lock up their first win of the 2019 campaign.

Saturday 6/1/19: Adirondack Trail Blazers @ Utica Blue Sox – W 4-3

Coming off of an exciting comeback win on Opening Night, the Blue Sox opened their home slate of games with a 4-3 victory over the Adirondack Trail Blazers. The teams faced off in front of a record-setting home opener crowd of 2,574 fans.

Dalton O’Boyle got things started on the mound for the Sox, in their first game of the season at historic Murnane Field. O’Boyle got himself into a jam early on, allowing a runner to reach on his own throwing error, who later came in to score on an RBI groundout by Kevin Ferrer. He was then able to settle down, and escape the threat.

However, Adirondack’s lead didn’t hold for long, as the Blue Sox scored two on Robbie Young’s first home run of the season. The blast brought home Tyler Simon, giving Utica a 2-1 lead heading into the second.

After a rocky first inning, Dalton O’Boyle settled into a rhythm holding the Trail Blazers scoreless in the second. In the bottom half of the inning, the Sox tacked on their third run of the night by Utica native Vincenzo Castronovo scoring on an error committed by Adirondack first baseman Peter Cosentino, extending their lead to 3-1.

O’Boyle continued to cruise, as he pitched three more scoreless innings, maintaining the Blue Sox 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth. Luis DeLeon created a run for the Sox by himself, as he reached first on an Adirondack error, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and came around to score on another Trail Blazers’ error.

The Blue Sox pitching staff continued to command the ballgame, until the top of the seventh when Adirondack showed their first offensive spark since the first. A Will Jennings RBI groundout, followed by Ferrer scoring on a DeLeon error trimmed the Blue Sox lead to one, advancing the score to 4-3.

After the Adirondack rally, Doug Delett called on reliever Ray Pacella to stop the bleeding. Pacella pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth to close out the win for the Blue Sox. Pacella recorded three strikeouts in his two innings of work, picking up his first save of the season. The Blue Sox advance their record to 2-0 on the season.

Sunday 6/2/19: Utica Blue Sox @ Watertown Rapids – L 3-2

The Blue Sox suffered their first loss in their third game of the season. The contest was an extra-inning affair, that ended in a walk-off  3-2 victory for Watertown. The Blue Sox record drops to 2-1 on the season.

Tuesday 6/4/19: Mohawk Valley Diamond Dogs @ Utica Blue Sox – W 8-2

Coming off of their first loss of the season, the Blue Sox bounced back nicely by recording their third win in commanding fashion, an 8-2 win over the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dogs. This victory proved to be even more impressive as it was played through a very cold, windy, and rainy central New York evening.

Despite heavy rain prior to the scheduled first pitch, the Sox first meeting of the season with the Diamond dogs began on time. Mike Bovenzi made his second start of the season, and his first at home in front of the Blue Sox faithful. Bovenzi got into a little bit of a jam early on, as the first two batters reached on bunt singles. An error by Utica third baseman Ryan Enos allowed Mohawk Valley center fielder Owen Wosleger to come around to score the first run of the night, advancing the score to 1-0 in favor of Mohawk Valley. Bovenzi then settled down, throwing a scoreless second

In the bottom half of the second inning, the Blue Sox offense began to show some life. Catcher Tim Mira evened the score by hitting a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1-1. Later in the inning, center fielder Vincenzo Castronovo plated Dewey Roden with an RBI single, to give the Sox a 2-1 lead.

After committing an error in the first, third baseman Ryan Enos made up for the Adirondack run he contributed to, by hitting an RBI single to give the Blue Sox a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third.

Starting pitcher Mike Bovenzi continued to cruise, pitching a scoreless third and fourth through the rain. In the top of the fifth, Doug Delett turned the game over to his bullpen, bringing in reliever Michael McCully, who had an impressive outing on opening night in Oneonta. McCully impressed once again, as he pitch 2.2 innings, with four strikeouts, only allowing one run, on his way to picking up his first win of the season.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Blue Sox tacked on three more runs on an RBI single from Tyler Simon, and a monster two-run home run off the bat of Luis DeLeon.

Utica added an insurance run late, advancing the score to 8-2. This held as the final score, providing the Blue Sox with their third win of the season. The Blue Sox now sit at 3-1 on the young season, and are tied for first, atop the PGCBL Western Division.

6/5/19: Watertown Rapids @ Utica Blue Sox (Postponed)

This game was postponed due to inclement weather, and will be made up on June 23.

Thursday 6/6/19: Utica Blue Sox @ Geneva Red Wings – W 7-6

The Blue Sox worked an early lead and held it for the duration. Despite a late Red Wing’s comeback, the Blue Sox were able to hold on for their fourth win of the season.

WESTERN DIVISION STANDINGS

The Blue Sox Upcoming Matchups are as Follows:

Friday 6/7/19: Adirondack @ Utica

Saturday 6/8/19: Utica @ Watertown

Sunday 6/9/19: Newark @ Utica

Monday 6/10/19: Albany @ Utica

Tuesday 6/11/19: Utica @ Geneva

Wednesday 6/12/19: Oneonta @ Utica