http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20110513/SPORTS/705139927
Published May 13, 2011 in the Rutland Herald
OV encouraged by win over Cosmos
By POODY WALSH
SPRINGFIELD — Even though Otter Valley has thrashed around Division II during its first 10 games, there’s not many people that don’t think the Otters will be in the running for the title when the postseason begins.
Springfield coach Andy Bladyka thinks that his team, Fair Haven and Otter Valley are probably the teams with the best chance for a long postseason run and after Thursday’s 7-2 loss to the Otters, nothing has happened to change his mind.
It was kind of a rough week for the Cosmos, who lost 2-0 to Fair Haven on Tuesday and couldn’t get the run production going again on Thursday. Still the Cosmos are in the midst of a nice season at 8-3.
“We had an eight-day layoff before the Fair Haven game and we haven’t done much offensively since,” Bladyka said.
Otter Valley is just 4-6, but its well-played win has coach Pattie Candon feeling good about her teams.
“I do believe we’re a contender in the Division II race,” Candon said. “The kids are starting to come around.”
The Otters made just one error and were solid all day on defense. They also made several heads-up plays, like charging bunts and cutting runners down on the base paths.
“The kids are starting to think ahead about what they are going to do if the ball is hit to them,” Candon said.
Bladyka said that most teams go through up-and-down spells during the season and right now his Cosmos are in a bit of a lull.
“We hit better than we did against Fair Haven (a 2-0 loss), but we still couldn’t get the big hit when we needed it,” Bladyka said.
The Cosmos had plenty of chances as they spaced out nine hits, never getting more than two in any one inning, and received three bases on balls, but stranded 11 runners.
“One of the things we talked about after the game was putting our hits together for a big inning,” Bladyka said.
The final score was a bit indicative of an easy win for the Otters, but it was not as Otter Valley put the game away by scoring four times in the seventh.
Kristy Pinkham, who plays a very shallow and effective third base, was also a pest to the Cosmos on offense as she scored in each of the first two innings with some hustling base running. In the first she singled and stole second and third. Then when Meranda Bessette dropped a bunt down, she delayed breaking for the plate until the throw was made to first.
In the second inning she again singled and made it all the way to third when the throw to get her on a steal of second went into center field. She then scored easily as Marian D’Avignon doubled.
Kaylee Haskell was involved in both Springfield runs. In the fourth inning she singled and Sara Locke, running for her, scored on Kristin Cook’s double. Haskell again singled in the sixth and again Locke ran for her and scored on Alexis Locke’s base hit.
The second run made it a 3-2 game, but the Otters scored four times on just two hits in the seventh as Springfield made three errors.
Mallory Ketcham was the complete-game winner for the Otters. Locke started on the hill for the Cosmos, with Andrea Allen coming in the seventh.
Pinkham ended up with a three-hit game while Bessette and Kristyn Jerome each had two for Otter Valley.
Jill Rushton, Cook and Haskell had two hits for Springfield.
While the day ended a good note for the Ottters it didn’t start that way as designated player Chelsea Bruce injured her ankle during batting practice and was unable to play.
Bellows Falls comes to Springfield today while Otter Valley is at Rutland Saturday.
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