Cosmos score twice in seventh to nip Slaters

Maybe the Springfield softball team got some intervention from above in Monday’s 3-2 victory over Fair Haven. Or maybe it was just a case of an outstanding hitter playing on emotion and having one of the best days of her life.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20110524/SPORTS/705249862

Published May 24, 2011 in the Rutland Herald

Cosmos score twice in seventh to nip Slaters

By Tom Haley

FAIR HAVEN — Maybe the Springfield softball team got some intervention from above in Monday’s 3-2 victory over Fair Haven. Or maybe it was just a case of an outstanding hitter playing on emotion and having one of the best days of her life.

Whatever you choose to believe. Jessie Haskell, playing on the second anniversary of her father Moe’s death, banged out three hard singles, including the biggest hit of the game that drove in Jill Rushhton, making the score 2-2 in the seventh inning..

Haskell, who plays with a bracelet under her uniform that reads “In Memory of Moe Haskell,” said she was determined to have a big day after hitting the ball hard when the game began Friday, only to have it caught by Lorien Stannard.

The game was suspended by lightning Friday with Fair Haven leading 1-0 in the bottom of the second.

The Slaters took the lead Friday when Cassidy Auger legged out an infield single and came around to score on a wild pitch.

After Haskell’s hit tied it, the Cosmos got the winning run across in the same inning on an error.

Sarah Vredenburgh, who had beaten out a bunt single, made it to third on Haskell’s hit. Amanda Farnsworth was at the plate and was supposed to let the pitch go by so Haskell could steal second. But Farnsworth missed the sign and swung. She lined the ball to third base. Kayla Stoodley caught the ball, but her attempt to nail Haskell going back to first sailed wide, allowing Vredenburgh to come home with the winning run.

The Cosmos are 11-3 overall and have clinched at least a tie for the Marble Valley League championship.

“I have never had an MVL (championship) jacket so I really wanted this,” Haskell, a senior, said. “I have been hitting the ball well but right at somebody. Today they fell in.”

It was an outstanding pitching duel between sophomore Auger and Springfield freshman Sara Locke. They were throwing strikes. Auger gave up nine hits, struck out three and did not walk anyone.

Locke surrendered six hits, struck out three and walked two.

Trailing since Friday, the Cosmos tied it at 1-1 in the fourth. Haskell lined a solid single up the middle, moved to third on an error and scored on Kristin Cook’s base hit.

The Slaters got back on top with a run in the sixth. Auger walked and Hunter Pedro singled to set the table for Emily Ringquist, who singled to left to score Auger.

That only set the stage for Haskell and the Cosmos in the seventh.

The Slaters fall to 7-6.

Springfield coach Andy Bladyka said the victory clinched the No. 2 spot in the Division II playoffs for his club.

A key defensive play was turned in by Springfield freshman third baseman Heather Sanborn in the fourth inning. Stannard sliced a long, one-out triple down the line in right. Ringquist then grounded to Sanborn, who faked the throw to first, doing a good enough job selling the play so that Stannard broke for home and was tagged out in a rundown.

Haskell had three hits and Kristin Cook two to lead the Cosmos. Kaylee Haskell, Jessie’s sister, got on base both times up on Friday, reaching on an error and ripping a single to left.

It was Senior Day so Megan Wooster and Stannard were playing their final regular-season game on the home diamond.

“They have both been varsity players all four years,” Springfield coach Squeak Gregory said. “They have been great to coach. They both have unbelievable attitudes.”