Cosmos christen Birsky-Wyman Field with win

Springfield could not have picked a better day to win its first game.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20130512/SPORTS02/705129951

Published May 12, 2013 in the Rutland Herald Cosmos christen Birsky-Wyman Field with win By POODY WALSH Correspondent SPRINGFIELD - Springfield could not have picked a better day to win its first game. On the day that the baseball facility was dedicated to a pair of long-time baseball coaches, the Cosmos pulled out a 4-3 win over Windsor at what is now Birsky-Wyman Field at Riverside Park. Both teams scored three runs in the first inning then took turns squandering scoring opportunities until the Springfield sixth when Springfield’s Cody Vanderburgh hit a two-out single that was followed with the biggest hit of the day, a triple down the line in right by Jordan Crowley that delivered Vandenburgh, “This made for a great day,” said Springfield coach Larry Partridge.“I’m happy for the kids.” After the Cosmos took the lead in the sixth, Springfield had to make a pitching change in the seventh as starter Mike Muther had gone the limit of 120 pitches. This put freshman Kyle Weeks in the spotlight. While a one-out, two-base error made things a little tight, Weeks got two ground ball outs to end the game. It’s been kind of a nightmare season for the Cosmos who had a 5-2 lead in their season opener with this same Windsor team before the Yellow Jackets scored four times in the seventh to win 6-5. Springfield had not come close to winning again and going into Saturday’s game had scored just one run in its last five outings. And then when Windsor, 3-8, scored three runs in the top of the first it didn’t look like win No. 1 was going to come on Saturday. However, Windsor never scored again and Springfield tied it up in the bottom of the inning then won it in the sixth. “Offense has been a problem all season and it was a problem again today,” said Windsor coach Don Swinyer. Both starting pitchers were effective, Muther for Springfield and Tyson Boudro for Windsor. Muther gave up just one hit after the first inning and ended up with eight strikeouts. “His curve kind of fooled us today,” said Swinyer. Boudro threw 102 pitchers, allowing six hits with four walks and four strikeouts. The wet, deep grass in the Springfield infield played a key role in the three runs Springfield scored in the first inning. Two walks and a bunt single by Archie Farmer loaded the bases with one out. Vandenburgh lined out to left, but the runner on third never tagged up. This brought Crowley to the plate and his roller to shortstop was slowed by the grass and Shawn Pinsonault’s hurried throw on the run not only got by first baseman Tanner Tibbits, but never rolled out of play, again slowed by the deep, wet grass, and all three runners came around to score. In the Windsor first Boudro singled to start the game, stole second and one out later scored as Matt Thayer singled him in. Shawn Pinsonault walked later in the inning and along with Thayer moved up a base on a wild pitch. Both runners trotted home on Nate Mayo’s single. Muther’s only trouble after that came in the third when he hit Tibbits and walked Pinsonault with no outs, but a pop to the catcher, a strikeout and a comebacker got him out of further trouble. NOTES: Prior to the start of the game the dedication was held to recognize Bo Birsky and Richie Wyman. Birsky coached the baseball team from 1946 to 1974 when he was replaced by Wyman who led the team until 1996. Both were long-time teachers - Birsky teaching for nearly 50 years and Wyman almost 40. Birsky passed away in 2005 while Wyman was in attendance and spoke to gathering of approximately 100. Birsky’s son, Greg, threw out the first pitch to Wyman’s son, Jeff. When speaking Richie Wyman said, “This is a very humbling experience. I never expected anything like this.”