Raiola Returns as Manager of the Valley Blue Sox

HOLYOKE, Mass. - The Valley Blue Sox of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) announced that John Raiola would return as their manager beginning in the 2026 season on Tuesday.

Raiola is currently serving in his seventh season at the helm of the Elms College Baseball team. He most recently served as the Director of Baseball Operations with the Blue Sox beginning in the 2020 season. Prior to that role, Raiola was the manager of the Blue Sox for five seasons, with a 136-94 record, including a 12-3 mark in the NECBL playoffs, and winning back-to-back NECBL Championships in 2017 and 2018. Prior to his manager role with the Blue Sox, Raiola spent two seasons as a pitching coach for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League and as an assistant coach with the Newport Gulls and Keene Swamp Bats of the NECBL.

When asked about his return to managing the Blue Sox, Raiola stated "I am really excited to get back in the dugout and work with an extremely talented roster and coaching staff. The Blue Sox have been a big part of my life over the past 11 years, so this will be another fun chapter along the way!"

The Valley Blue Sox are set to begin the 2026 season on Thursday, June 4th hosting Newport at Mackenzie Stadium.

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