COLIN DUNN
HOLYOKE – The Valley Blue Sox have gotten a booster shot from some former Bombers.
The Blue Sox recently inked Westfield’s Colin Dunn after Murray State’s Jaron Robinson went down with a late season injury.
Dunn, a graduate of Westfield High, is currently a senior at Westfield State University.
“This is a dream come true for a local kid to play for such a well-known and well-respected franchise such as the Blue Sox,” Dunn said. “To share the field with kids that are going to go on to the next level is great.”
Craig Lacey takes the mound for Bryant University. Lacey has helped bolster the bullpen for the Valley Blue Sox this season. (Photo courtesy of Bryant University)
So far, Dunn has held his own against some potential future pros.
Dunn signed with the Blue Sox on July 26. He made his debut against the Newport Gulls last Saturday, going for 0-for-3 against a southpaw from Vanderbilt University and a closer from UCLA.
“It was pretty fun facing a pitcher from the SEC and a kid from the west coast,” Dunn said. “That was classic.”
Colin Dunn swings the bat for the Westfield High School baseball team in 2014. Dunn recently inked a deal to play for the Valley Blue Sox. (Staff photo)
Someone making the jump to the New England Collegiate Baseball League could easily feel overwhelmed, but in Dunn’s last at-bat he hit the ball fairly hard and something clicked in his head.
“I grounded into a fielder’s choice,” he said, “but I hit the ball hard. I knew I could compete.”
In his next start batting out of the No. 9 spot, Dunn hit a mid 90s fastball on a 1-2 count for a line drive base hit. Later in the game, he drilled a double down the right field line.
“I felt a lot more confident,” he said.
Dunn should be feel somewhat welcome on his new team as he joined a familiar face, Westfield High School graduate Craig Lacey. The two teammates played together in Little League, Babe Ruth All-Stars, and on the Bombers’ baseball team.
Lacey, a junior now at Bryant University, has helped bolster the bullpen with several outings for the Blue Sox.
Although Lacey sports a 5.26 ERA, he has been averaging more than one strikeout per inning with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 13:7. He also has a win this season.
The Blue Sox, having completed the regular season with an NECBL best 30-12 record, earned a first round bye in the playoffs. They will open with a best-of-3 series Saturday night at Mackenzie Stadium at 6:35 p.m.
Craig Lacey watches the flight of the ball as he pitches to an Agawam batter in a high school baseball game during his days as the Westfield High pitcher. (Staff photo)
Colin Dunn turns a double play for Westfield State. (WSU File Photo)
