Maniery's two triples lead MR

Before the game Mill River assistant coach Ken Webb was kidding about moving Josh Maniery up in the batting practice order if he had a couple hits and played good defense.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100519/SPORTS/5190329      # # # #  Maniery's two triples lead MR  •  Rutland Herald  •  By POODY WALSH Herald Correspondent - Published: May 19, 2010  •  SPRINGFIELD — Before the game Mill River assistant coach Ken Webb was kidding about moving Josh Maniery up in the batting practice order if he had a couple hits and played good defense. When the Minutemen take batting practice today, Maniery could be the first one in the cage.  •  The Mill River second baseman not only played an errorless ballgame, but he lashed two triples out of the No. 9 spot and scored the game-winning run in the seventh inning as the Minutemen rode home 4-3 winners.  •  "I don't think I ever had two triples in a game," said Mill River coach Gary MacDonald as he smiled and shook his head.  •  The second triple was the big blow. With the game tied at 3-3, Maniery, a right-handed batter, sliced a drive down the right field line and before Springfield right-fielder Bennett Chevalier could run the ball down, Maniery went into third standing up. With Alex Goyette at the plate, Springfield pitcher Derek Osborne tried to pick Maniery off third, but the throw was high and Maniery came in with what proved to be the winning run.  •  It was a swift, well-played game that had both coaches and umpires Al Libardoni and George Lucia lauding both teams.   •  While Osborne was charged with the loss, it was a not because he didn't have a big day. He tossed a six-hitter with six strikeouts and walked just one.  •  Joey Beland, the Mill River hurler, was also on the mark as he gave up just five hits with five strikeouts and one base on balls. He threw 85 pitches.  •  "At times both pitchers were overpowering," said MacDonald.  •  Springfield and Mill River are two of the better Division II teams. Mill River is 9-4 and entered the game in second place. Springfield, the third place team, is 7-6.  •  The win also solidifies the Minutemen's hold on first place in the B Division of the Marble Valley League at 5-1.  •  Springfield coach Larry Partridge said that while he was not happy with the loss, he was not unhappy with how his Cosmos played.  •  "I would have liked to done more in the early innings when he were getting the lead off man on," said Partridge. Springfield had the first man on in four of the first five innings.  •  Partridge tried playing some small ball, but the Cosmos were not particularly effective in getting the bunt down. When Springfield's speedy leadoff batter Brandon Boyle was cut down stealing in the first inning by Mill River catcher Ryan Hammond, Partridge knew the Cosmos running game would be limited.  •  After three quick innings Mill River had a 1-0 lead as Tyler Wood had an RBI double in the third. There were chances for more runs in that inning, as Mill River had runners on second and third with one out, but Osborne got the three and four batters on a comebacker and strikeout.  •  Springfield got a run in the fourth as Matt Mitchell's single drove in courtesy runner Jordan Clapperton. Springfield also left a potential big inning on the bases as they failed to score any more runs with runners on second and third with one.  •  Both teams scored twice in the fifth as Ryan Hammond had a two-run double for Mill River while Osborne and Taylor Fontaine (3-for-3) drove in the Springfield runs.  •  Mill River goes to Fair Haven Thursday while Springfield hosts Woodstock on Friday.  •