SANFORD — Even though the Sanford Mainers sit in sixth place in the Northern Division standings, head coach Cejay Suarez has been proud of the effort they’ve put forth all season.

On Tuesday, the Mainers fell just short of a second consecutive come-from-behind win, falling to the Valley Blue Sox 7-6 in 10 innings in an NECBL baseball game at Goodall Park in Sanford.

“The kids all year have been fighting,” said Suarez. “We’re not where we want to be standings wise, but they’ve been battling and it says a lot about them as people.”

Valley’s Danny Ryan threw out Erik Stock at the plate from right field to keep in the eighth to keep the game tied at 5-5 heading into the ninth, and he hit the go-ahead two-run home run in the 10th and to push Valley ahead 7-5.

Sanford had a chance to tie the score in their half of the frame. 

With Shane Marshall starting the inning at second base, Stock smacked a two-out triple to right-center field to bring Sanford to within one a 7-6, but Sean Hupp struck out Connor Tate with an off-speed pitch out of the zone to end the game.

“It’s more than just wins and losses for us,” said Suarez. “We want to make sure these guys are ready for fall ball when they leave again for college.”

The Mainers had a chance to win in the ninth. Elliott Curtis led off the frame with a single to right and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Ryan Turenne. 

Valley reliever Hunter Waldis struck out Casey Buckley looking but threw a wild pitch with Sterling Hayes at the plate to move Curtis to third. Waldis dug down, however, and struck out Hayes on a high fastball to end the threat. 

Sanford trailed early, but rallied and took the lead in the fifth on a two-run home run to left field from Shane Marshall to make it 4-3. The Mainers extended their lead in the seventh. Turenne smacked a double off the right-field wall to lead things off. After Korey Bell got Buckley to fly out, Hayes ripped a double to left-center to bring in Turenne and make it 5-3. 

But Valley tied things up in the eighth. Sanford reliever Jacob Parker retired the first two batters of the inning, but John Marti extended the frame with a single to right field. 

Joe Lomuscio followed and delivered a triple to left field, scoring Marti, to make it a one-run game. Then, with Natale Monastra at the plate, Lomuscio scored on a wild pitch to tie the game.

Darren Williams got the no-decision for Sanford, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six.

“(Darren) is a stud,” said Suarez. “He’s a gamer. Whenever it’s his time to get on the mound, he’s ready to go. All summer long, he’s given his best effort every single time.”

UP NEXT

The Mainers host the North Adams SteepleCats at legendary Goodall Park in their final game of the season Thursday at 6:30 p.m.