Back home and locked in: Sebastian Mexico thriving with Valley Blue Sox

HOLYOKE – Sebastian Mexico has a simple approach once he steps inside the batter’s box: swing early and often.

The Baldwinville native did just that in the Valley Blue Sox’s 6-4 win over the Bristol Blues on Friday at Mackenzie Stadium in NECBL action as Mexico helped the hosts snap a three-game skid with a strong showing at the plate. Mexico went 2-for-4 with the lumber and led all Blue Sox players with four RBIs. Mexico, who starred for Louisiana Tech this past spring, belted the team’s only extra-base hit as well, with a double during the bottom of the fourth inning.

“I’ve always been a swing-early guy, just because, I feel like early in the count is when pitchers are trying to sneak stuff by me,” Mexico said. “I feel like early in the count is when they’re trying to steal strikes, later in the count is when they’re trying to get me to chase, so I’d rather get out of there trying to challenge them.”

Mexico brought Valley back into the game during the bottom of the second inning, following a three-run frame from the Blues just beforehand. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder cracked a two-RBI single to the outfield to even the score at 3-3, then tacked on two more runs for his team in the fourth with the two-bagger. Mexico’s extra-base hit put the Blue Sox ahead, 5-3, then eventually scored on a sacrifice fly from Michael O’Conor for the 6-3 advantage.

Bristol got one run back during the top of the fifth following a couple of errors from Valley pitcher Beau Elson, but that was all the scoring to be had as the Blue Sox improved to 6-6 overall with the victory.

“It just resets everything and it proves that we’re right there,” Valley head coach Endy Morales said on halting the losing streak. “We’ve known we were right there, I just think that we didn’t have enough consistency in the way that we were showing up to the ballpark. Today, we put them through it a little bit. We were back home, we got them here early, we had a mental-skills session with some of the resources that we had, we had early work, bunch of swings in the cages, nice long [batting practice], just getting them back in the flow of things and working on the small stuff that ultimately that ended up being the bigger stuff.”

Elson, who hails from Hadley, picked up the win (five innings, four hits, four runs, one walk, three strikeouts) on the bump, while Andrew Wertz closed out the contest with two strikeouts and the save.

Friday’s fireworks from Mexico was nothing new as the rising senior has been the Blue Sox’s best hitter since joining the squad. The outfielder has registered at least one base knock in nine of the 10 games he’s suited up for and provides a lot of pop from the leadoff spot for Valley.

“It doesn’t always have to be pretty but he’s getting it done,” Morales said. “I just think that’s infectious and exactly why he’s in the leadoff spot. Those [first] two batters, they come up the most in the lineup and we want him to get the most at-bats. It’s been working for us and I think it’s given us a spark that’s much needed.”

Mexico’s first game was back on June 7, three games after Opening Day on June 1, but you wouldn’t know it looking purely at his statistics. The left-handed slugger has already amassed a .389 batting average while also sending two balls beyond the outer fences in just 10 games played.

When asked what he’s looking for once he’s facing off with a pitcher, Mexico said he sits on off-speed pitches.

“I know myself has a hitter, I know the stats I put up this year,” Mexico said. “I pride myself on being able to sit soft, but if you throw me a fastball and I see it well, I’m still going to put a pretty darn good swing on it. I just know myself as a hitter and how guys like to pitch me.”

Mexico also showcased his ability to send the ball to both sides of the field on Friday as his pair of hits landed in each of the two outfield gaps.

“Since he’s joined us, he’s had a back-side homer here, a pull-side homer, he’s had line drives up the middle, I just think his versatility, where he can spray it everywhere, it’s exactly what we need in this lineup, but more so in this league,” said Morales. “When you have the talent that we have in this league, you need to be able to do that and he has no problem doing it.”

This summer has been an extension of the spring season for Mexico as he batted .315 in 52 games with the Bulldogs down in the Bayou State. However, Mexico admitted being much closer to his family with the Blue Sox is a special situation.

“I love the fact that, one, it’s close to home, so I can be around my family and all that still,” Mexico said. “Being in Louisiana all year, it’s nice to be home, be able to stay home, instead of most people having to be really far for summer ball. Summer ball is always fun, meeting all the new faces, new guys, there’s guys from everywhere here.”

Mexico and the Blue Sox will look to start a streak in the win column when they travel to Vermont for a game against the Mountaineers on Sunday. First pitch at Montpelier Recreation Field is set for 6:30 p.m.