Six-run fourth propels Poultney

Boys baseball at Springfield.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20150501/SPORTS02/705019909

Published May 1, 2015 in the Rutland Herald Six-run fourth propels Poultney By POODY WALSH Correspondent SPRINGFIELD — Junior right-hander Connor Hill was tough when he had to be,limiting Springfield to four singles as Poultney used a six-run fourth inning as a springboard to a 9-6 Marble Valley League win over Springfield Thursday at Birksy-Wyman Field. It was the second straight win for the Blue Devils, who had opened the season with two losses. “We played pretty well against Green Mountain (14-3) the last time out and maybe that will get us going,” said Poultney coach Dan Williams before the game. What got the Devils going in the fourth inning was a dropped fly ball. Poultney entered the inning trailing 4-1 and there were two outs when Joe Brown hit a fly ball to center that was dropped, playing a big part in the big inning. “That was the biggest play of the game,” said Williams. Springfield coach Rich Saypack has been trying to eradicate some of the problems that have allowed his team to give up 31 runs in the first two games, and dropping fly balls has been and area of concern. “We have a pitching machine and we point it straight up and outfielders sometimes field 50 fly balls at a practice,” said Saypack. “We cut down on our bases on balls and now we have to cut down on those timely errors.” After falling behind 7-6, Springfield’s chances to catch up were squandered by another error in the sixth. Poultney had runners on second and third when Nathan Mackey hit a grounder to second. After making the stop, the Springfield second baseman chose to try and cut the runner down at home, but the throw was over the catcher’s head and both runners scored. “Untimely errors, we just got to cut down on those untimely errors,” said Saypack of his Cosmos, who are now 1-2 and have Woodstock coming to town Tuesday. Hill threw 116 pitches, walking three and striking out 10. He had particular success with a change-of-speed pitch that consistently settled in the bottom of the strike zone. “He battled,’ said Williams. Springfield used two pitchers with Ed Shambo going the first 3.2 before being relieved by Mike Kollman, who finished up. Shambo threw 80 pitches in his stint, walking four and striking out four. Kollman had some success as he gave up just three hits and the two runs off him were unearned. Springfield scored two runs in each of the second, third and fourth innings. Ben Tubbs had an RBI single in the second. Hill balked twice and they played a role in one of the runs in the second and another run in the third. In the fourth, Kollman and Shumski each drove in runs. In the big six-run fourth, Hill had a two-run double down the left field line. Poultney’s Cody Adams was the only player in the game with two hits. He had two singles. Poultney goes to Leland and Gray on Saturday. There were three ball calls in the game.