Otters shut down Springfield

Girls softball at Springfield.
http://rutlandherald.com/article/20140430/SPORTS02/704309846

Published April 30, 2014 in the Rutland Herald Otters shut down Springfield By POODY WALSH Correspondent SPRINGFIELD — Taylor Aines tossed a three-hitter and Cortney Poljacik hit a three-run homer as Otter Valley broke up a scoreless tilt with a late game rally en route to a 7-0 win over Springfield in a Division II game at Bill Robinson Field Tuesday afternoon. The Otters started out the season with two not-so-hot losses, but have since bounced back with three straight wins. In those three victories the Otters have outscored the opponents 37-2. Aines, a senior right-hander, needed just 93 pitches to get the win as she walked only two and had four strikeouts. Her defense was steady all game (two harmless errors) and she was appreciative of that fact. “They really helped me out today,” she said. Aines’ success did not come from the power route as she found success by keeping the ball away from the fat part of the bat and let her defense help out. “She’s a very intelligent pitcher,” said her coach Pattie Candon. For five innings Aines and Springfield’s Heather Sanborn matched goose eggs, but in the sixth the Otters score four times and put a lock on the game with three more in the seventh. Sanborn ended up with an eight-hitter, striking out seven and walking four. “This was a good game for a long time,” said Springfield coach Andy Bladyka. “We couldn’t get the big hit at the right time and they did. That was pretty much the story of the game.” When Otter Valley dropped its first two games Candon said one of the reasons for the slow start was roster issues as she did always have all her players available. They were all in attendance Tuesday, but she still fidgeted. “They had me worried for awhile today, but there’s no doubt that we’re playing much better now,” said the veteran coach. Springfield twice had two runners on with one out, but didn’t score. In the fourth a walk to Brooke Willey, a single by Kaylee Haskell (she had two of the Springfield hits) put runners on first and third. A short fly and infield out brought and end to that inning. In the fifth a Sara Locke single and an error put runners on second and third with one out. Again Aines got out of it was a pop-up and grounder. While Sanborn got roughed up in the late innings she got out of a major jam in thefourth when the Otters loaded the bases with no outs. Sanborn found a little extra and got two strikeouts and fielded a drive back to the mound to avoid any damage. Aines, who keyed both big innings, tripled to lead off the sixth. She held third as Megan Santell beat out an infield hit. Santell then stole second and along with Aines scored on Laura Beth Roberts’ two-run single. The final two runs of the inning were produced by a Brittany Bushey two-run single. In the seventh Aines singled on the first pitch, Santell singled on the second one and the third pitch of the inning was a three-run homer by Poljacik. Poljacik ended up with three hits while Aines and Santell each had two. This was the first of four consecutive road games for the Otters who got to Leland & Gray Thursday, Mount Abraham Friday and Rutland on Monday. Hot-hitting Mount Anthony comes to Springfield Thursday.