HOLYOKE, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - The Valley Blue Sox hosted their annual Media Day, as the New England Collegiate Baseball League opened their season this week. Fans got a look at the 2026 team as they held their first full practice of the season.

The roster is made-up exclusively of college students from across the country, stretching from our own backyard in Amherst, to as far away as California. Players will spend their summer in Holyoke training to take their game to the next level against similar talent from across the region.

Western Mass News spoke with Head Coach John Raiola to hear what he expects out of this year’s squad, “a huge part for our community, for our organization is to win a championship, you know we’ve won two of them, and it’s been a little while, it’s something that’s certainly on the top of our list of things that are important to us as well as developing them and having them get the exposure that they need.”

The Blue Sox kick off their season on Thursday night at Mackenzie Stadium in Holyoke as they host the Newport Gulls. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and first pitch is an hour later at 6:30 p.m.

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