By: Shannon Bickert

The Mystic Schooners look to snap their three-game losing skid in a double header against the Valley Blue Sox on Saturday, July 25. The Schooners have fallen to third place in the NECBL South standings with a 21-16 record, while the Westerners, who are on a seven-game winning streak, are just a game behind.

Mystic looks to get back on track against a Valley team that is below .500 on the season, who has gotten the better of the Schooners this season, leading the series 2-1. In their last meeting on July 20, the Blue Sox came from behind to win 10-6.

The Blue Sox come into the contest riding a three-game win streak. Ryan Frontera (Seton Hall) walked off Vermont on Thursday evening.

Mystic has suffered three straight come-from-behind losses. The Schooners offense has struggled as of late, tallying just three runs in their last two contests.

This doubleheader is the perfect way for the Schooners to bounce back, as Valley comes to Groton bearing just a .214 team batting average this summer, while their pitching staff is in the bottom third of the NECBL with a 5.09 team ERA.

Mystic’s probables for the double header are Tristan Aasland (UConn), who is set to start the first game, and Brady Bouchard (Portal), for the later match up. Aasland has struck out 19 hitters across 18.2 innings this summer. Bouchard is the second game probable. He has pitched to a 2.19 ERA in 24.2 innings while posting a sub-one WHIP. Bouchard’s last outing was against Valley, where he shut down the Blue Sox through five innings, allowing just one hit.

Andrew Oppenheimer (Trinity) is the game one probable for the Blue Sox. Oppenheimer has recorded a 4.00 ERA in 18.2 innings, while striking out eight this summer.

First pitch for game one is set for 4 pm from the Shipyard. The second game is Alumni and Host Family Night and will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first contest. Catch the live-game broadcast on ESPN+.